Jacksonville Golf Group Awards $2.5M in 50-Year History

Eighteen local students just got life-changing news: they're receiving scholarships to pursue their dreams of playing college golf while earning their degrees.

The Jacksonville Area Golf Association (JAGA) honored its 2026 scholarship class at a celebration dinner on May 19 at Deerwood Country Club. The 18 students represent 12 local high schools across the Jacksonville area, from Ponte Vedra to Fernandina Beach.

These aren't just talented golfers. The class boasts a collective 4.2 GPA and impressive records of community service and leadership.

The students will attend schools ranging from hometown Jacksonville University to Wake Forest, the University of Florida, and Virginia Tech. Two scholars, Cambree Hodge and Sophia Cavanagh, will join their future coaches at the celebration dinner, already building connections for their college careers.

JAGA also awarded four golf professionals with $2,500 scholarships to help them earn their Level 2 PGA certifications. Jarred Barsamian, Jaxon Butler, Jarrod Garcia, and Stephen Rodriguez work at local clubs and are advancing their careers in the golf industry.

Several students received special recognition awards. William David Lyle earned both the Furyk Scholar Award and the Kochera Award for his outstanding achievements. Riley Spencer took home the Billy Drake/Billy Walker Community Service Award, while Harrison Grunewald and Olivia Pia both received Henry Tuten Gator Bowl Pro-Am Awards.

The Ripple Effect

Since 1974, JAGA has invested more than $2.5 million in helping 475 students pursue higher education. That's 50 years of opening doors for young people who combine athletic talent with academic excellence and community commitment.

These scholarships do more than fund education. They support young people who give back to their communities, hold leadership positions, and balance demanding academic schedules with their passion for golf.

The impact extends beyond the students themselves. Many scholarship recipients return to the Jacksonville area as professionals, educators, and community leaders, creating a cycle of investment in the next generation.

Jacksonville University women's golf coach Kathryn Dougan, the evening's featured speaker, represents this full-circle story. She now mentors scholarship recipients like Cambree Hodge, who will join returning scholar Emma Wells on the Jacksonville University team.

Fifty years of scholarships means 50 years of believing in young people and watching them succeed.