Kelly Zhang Wins the 2026 Kathy Whitworth Invitational

Lewisville, Texas — The 27th Kathy Whitworth Invitational concluded Tuesday at The Lakes at Castle Hills, where a field of 70 of the nation’s top junior girls golfers competed in two days of championship play. Sixty-eight players completed the tournament.

After entering the final round tied for the lead with rounds of 4-under par 68, Ashnoor Kaur of Roanoke, Virginia; Ashley Shaw of Litchfield Park, Arizona; and Hailey Kim of Simi Valley, California set the stage for an exciting finish.

As the final round unfolded, Kelly Zhang of Hillsborough, California, a member of the Class of 2030, steadily climbed the leaderboard. Zhang posted rounds of 70–70 for a two-day total of 4-under par (140) to capture the 2026 Kathy Whitworth Invitational title.

Finishing just one stroke behind in second place was Zoey Kim of Los Angeles, California (Class of 2027) at 3-under par (141), while Hailey Kim of Simi Valley, California (Class of 2029) finished third at 2-under par (142).

Players representing 16 states and three countries competed on the championship layout at 6,308 yards during the second year the event has been hosted at The Lakes at Castle Hills.

The tournament was supported by 15 USGA-certified Rules Officials, and the elite field drew strong attention from the collegiate level with NCAA Division I coaches walking the course observing the competitors.

Now in its 27th year, the Kathy Whitworth Invitational continues to establish itself as one of the premier junior girls golf events in the country. Past champions include LPGA stars Nelly Korda and Paula Creamer, among many others who have gone on to successful collegiate and professional careers.

The tournament committee would also like to thank the many volunteers who worked tirelessly throughout the event to ensure the tournament ran smoothly, as well as the entire staff at The Lakes at Castle Hills for serving as such gracious hosts.

FULL RESULTS

For more information about the Kathy Whitworth Invitational, please visit
KathyWhitworthInvitational.com