Tyler Watts of Huntsville (Left), Alabama Junior Boys Player of the Year and Scarlett Schremmer of Birmingham (Right), Alabama Junior Girls Player of the Year

HOOVER, AL (Sep. 7, 2023) – The Alabama Golf Association (AGA) announces the Alabama All-State Teams and Junior Players of the Year for 2023. This is the seventh year of the awards being presented by the Alabama Golf Association.
 
All-State teams are awarded based on the Alabama State Junior Golf Rankings System, which awards points per event based on the number of participants in the event combined with the overall strength of the field. These tournaments must also meet additional requirements to be a sanctioned rankings event. Teams are annually based on the player performance over the past 12 months from September 1 through August 31.
 
All-State team members, the Junior Boys Player of the Year and the Junior Girls Player of the Year winners will be honored with other Alabama State Players of the Year in early 2024.
   
Boys First Team:  
 
Tyler Watts, 2026, of Huntsville is a sophomore at Grissom High School. “The Summer of Watts” got off to an electric start when Tyler won the Alabama State Amateur Championship at The Country Club of Mobile by seven shots to become the youngest Champion in the 107-year history of the tournament. The following week, he won the prestigious Southern Junior Championship at Baton Rouge Country Club. He continued to steamroll through the golf season by qualifying for the U.S. Junior Championship and making the Round of 32 only to lose to the eventual champion, winning the AJGA Keith Mitchell Junior, and earning a T6 finish at the Western Junior Championship. Tyler is the number one ranked junior in the State of Alabama and the 2023 Alabama Golf Association Junior Boys Player of the Year.
 
Andrew Hinson, 2025, of Huntsville is a junior at Randolph School. Andrew won the AJGA Huntsville Junior by firing a final round 64. Andrew’s consistent play included a second-place finish at the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship, T10 finish at the Southern Junior Championship, T4 finish at the Future Masters, and a runner-up finish at the Greyson Sigg hosted by the American Junior Golf Association. Hinson is also the current AHSAA 5A State Champion. 
 
Jon Ed Steed, 2025, of Enterprise is a junior at Enterprise High School. He had another successful season that included wins at the Bubba Conlee in Tennessee and the 2022 AJGA Atlanta Classic. Jon Ed qualified for the U.S. Junior Championship and made the Round of 64. Additional highlights included a T3 finish at the AJGA Junior at Canebrake and a top ten finish at the Future Masters in Dothan. 
 
Trip Duke, 2024, of Fairhope is a senior at Fairhope High School. Trip carded multiple wins this season that included the Tommy Moore Memorial and the SJGT Tournament of Champions. He finished third at the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship and fifth at the Alabama State Amateur Championship as well as qualified for the Junior PGA Championship in Arkansas. In addition to his wins, Trip found success competing on the SJGT and AJGA tours, where he racked up three top-five performances and two top-20 finishes. He is a Mississippi State University commit. 
 
Chase Kyes, 2025, of Birmingham is a junior at Spain Park High School. Chase got his summer off to a strong start by winning the AHSAA 7A State Championship with rounds of 69-66, which broke the tournament scoring record. Chase earned a place in the Round of 16 at the U. S. Junior Championship, qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship, and earned a top-20 finish at the Western Junior. Chase had multiple top-ten performances in several AJGA events this year, including a T4 finish at the AJGA Spot X Hotel Junior.
 
 Boys Second Team:
 
Michael Crocker, 2024, of Mobile is a senior at McGill-Toolen High School. Michael won the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship at Goose Pond Colony Resort with rounds of 66-68-70. He earned a T12 finish at the Alabama State Amateur Championship, T12 finish at the Gator Invitational, and a top fifteen finish at the Tommy Moore Memorial in Louisiana. He is the sixth ranked junior in Alabama and a 2024 University of Alabama commit.
 
Jackson Skinner, 2025, of Birmingham is a junior at Mountain Brook High School. Jackson accumulated multiple top ten finishes including a T4 finish at the Future Masters, T3 at the AJGA Atlanta Classic, T6 finish at the Gator Invitational, and a tenth-place finish at the Alabama Boys State Junior where he fired a final round of 69. Jackson also had several strong results on the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour and made the cut at the Southern Junior Championship. 
 
Bailey Sutter, 2026, of Vinemont is a sophomore at West Point High School. Bailey had four top-10 finishes, including a T5 at the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship, T7 at the AJGA Panama Junior, and a fourth-place finish at the HV3 Foundation Junior Open. Bailey made the cut at the Southern Junior Championship, finished T12 at the Future Masters, and was a member of the victorious Team Alabama squad at the Southern Junior Cup in Missouri. 
 
Jonathan Peters, 2024, of Homewood is a senior at Homewood High School. Jonathan finished T6 in the AHSAA 6A State Championship and T11 at the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship as well as made the cut at the Alabama State Amateur Championship. He found substantial success on the BGA Junior Tour with seven first place finishes.
 
Mason Crowder, 2024, of Dothan is a senior at Northside Methodist Academy. Mason battled his way back from injury to have T10 finishes at the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship, AJGA Huntsville Junior, and the SJGT St. Simons Island Junior. He had additional quality performances at the Bubba Conlee, Tommy Moore Memorial, and Jones Cup Junior Invitational. 
 
Boys Third Team:
 
Blake Gayles, 2024, of Phenix City is a senior at Glenwood School. Blake finished fourth at the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship by firing a closing round of 66. He competed in and had high finishes in AJGO events, including two first-place finishes, and won the 2023 AISA State Championship at Prattville Country Club in April. Blake also made the cut at both the Future Masters and Bubba Conlee.
 
Josiah Gilbert, 2023, of Millbrook is a freshman at Auburn University. He finished fourth at both the Alabama State Amateur Championship and the Alabama Open. Josiah was the runner-up and the AHSAA 6A State Championship and was a member of Team Alabama at the Southern Junior Cup in Missouri.
 
William Stelt, 2023, of Auburn is a freshman at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. He had a T5 finish at the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship and a T3 finish at the SJGT’s Southeastern Junior. William also made the cut at the Alabama State Amateur Championship with rounds of 72-68-69-73. 
 
Ward Harris, 2023, of Vestavia Hills is a freshman at UT-Chattanooga. He posted top-15 performances at the Southern Junior Championship, Elite Invitational, and Bobby Chapman Junior. Ward qualified for the U.S. Junior Championship and was also a key contributor on the 7A AHSAA State Championship Team for Vestavia High School.
 
Jackson Mitchell, 2023, of Athens is a freshman at the University of Alabama. He won the Elite Invitational with rounds of 70-68-66. Jackson earned a top-15 finish at the Alabama Boys State Junior Championship and a runner-up finish at the 2023 AHSAA Boys 7A State Championship. He found additional success on the AJGA tour with a top-ten finish at the Junior at Canebrake.
   
Girls First Team: 
 
Scarlett Schremmer, 2025, of Birmingham is a junior in high school who is home-schooled. She won the Alabama Girls State Junior Championship with rounds of 66-72-66 and made the semi-finals at the Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship. Scarlett qualified for both the U.S. Girls Junior and PGA Junior Championship. She had multiple top-ten AJGA finishes, including a T3 finish at the Arnold Palmer Junior Invitational. Schremmer is the number one ranked junior in Alabama and the 2023 Alabama Girls State Junior Player of the Year. Scarlett is a verbal commitment to the University of Miami.
 
Gabriella Nicastro, 2023, of Huntsville is a freshman at Samford University in Birmingham. Gabriella competed in seven events, winning five and finishing runner-up in the other two. She won the Alabama Women’s Stroke Play Championship at Limestone Springs and finished T2 at the Alabama Girls State Junior Championship. Her remaining wins came with the SJGT and HJGT. Gabriella was also a member of the victorious Team Alabama squad at the Southern Junior Cup in Missouri.
 
Frances Brown, 2025, of Mobile is a junior at UMS-Wright Preparatory School. She won the 7A AHSAA Girls State Championship, finished fourth at the Alabama Girls State Junior Championship, and finished T9 at the Alabama Women’s Stroke Play. Frances also carded multiple top ten performances with the AJGA and SJGT. She closed out her summer as a member of Team Alabama at the Southern Junior Cup in Missouri. She is a verbal commitment to Auburn University.
 
Jinger Heath, 2023, of Decatur is a freshman at Jacksonville State University. Jinger won the 6A AHSAA Girls State Championship, finished fourth at the Alabama Women’s Stroke Play, and finished sixth at the Alabama Girls State Junior Championship. She also carded multiple top-five finishes with the AJGA and qualified for match play at the Alabama Women’s State Amateur. Jinger was a member of Team Alabama at the Southern Junior Cup in Missouri.
 
Chloe Ruble, 2024, of Athens is a senior at Lindsey Lane High School. Chloe finished as co-champion at the 1A-3A AHSAA State Championship as well as earned seventh at the Alabama Girls State Junior Championship, eighth at the Alabama Women’s Stroke Play, and a quarterfinalist place at the Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship. She also carded several top finishes while competing with the SJGT and HJGT and was a member of Team Alabama at the Southern Junior Cup in Missouri. Chloe is verbal commitment to the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
 
Girls Second Team:
 
Molly Brown Davidson, 2025, of Springville is a junior at Springville High School. She won the AJGA Junior at Canebrake, finished runner-up the Scott Robinson Memorial, finished top ten at the Women’s Orlando International, and qualified for the U.S. Girls Junior Championship. Molly Brown also made her first professional appearance at the Epson Tour’s Tuscaloosa Toyota Classic and made the cut. She was a member of Team Alabama at the Southern Junior Cup and Team East at the AJGA Wyndham Cup. Molly Brown will represent the United States at the World Canadian Girls Junior and is a verbal commitment to the University of Alabama.
 
Julie Waldo, 2026, of Auburn is a sophomore at Alabama Christian Academy. She carded several top-ten finishes, including eighth at the Alabama Women’s Stroke Play and T4 at the AJGA Moon Golf Junior All-Star, and earned a place in the Quarterfinals at the Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship. Julie also had several top performances on the JGA Tour.
 
Klare Jamison, 2027, of Huntsville is a freshman at Grissom High School. She carded several top Alabama Golf Association performances including a semi-finalist finish at the Alabama Women’s State Amateur and a T12 finish at the Alabama Girls State Junior Championship. Klare also found success with multiple top-five finishes on both the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour and Hurricane Junior Golf Tour. 
 
Yvette Gorden, 2023, of Pike Road is a freshman at Anderson University in South Carolina. Yvette had a consistent season with runner-up finishes at both the Alabama Girls State Junior Championship and the 6A AHSAA Girls State Championship. She also earned a place in the quarterfinals at the Alabama Women’s State Amateur and had a top-15 finish at the Alabama Women’s Stroke Play. Yvette was a member of Team Alabama at the Southern Junior Cup in Missouri.
 
Kate Ha, 2026, of Auburn is a sophomore at Auburn High School. Kate finished fifth at the Alabama Girls State Junior Championship and T4 at the 7A AHSAA State High School Championship. She also found success on the American Junior Golf Association circuit with multiple top-ten finishes, including T6 at the Arnold Palmer Junior Invitational.
 
Girls Third Team:
 
Katelyn Foster, 2024, of Mobile is a senior at Baker High School. She earned a place in the quarterfinals at the Alabama Women’s State Amateur and tenth place at the Alabama Girls State Junior as well as garnered a top-20 finish at the Alabama Women’s Stroke Play. Katelyn found success on multiple junior golf tours around the Southeast, including winning the Jimmy Green Golf Tour’s Senior Bowl Winter Classic and top ten finishes at Kiva Dunes and Wynlakes. She is a verbal commitment to the University of South Alabama. 
 
Tori Waters, 2023, of Mobile is a freshman at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Tori made a deep run through the Alabama Women’s State Amateur Championship at Musgrove Country Club where she earned a runner-up finish. She had several additional top finishes, including a top-20 finish at the Alabama Girls State Junior and multiple top-15 finishes on the SJGT circuit. 
 
Polly Kate McCrackin, 2025, of Hoover is a junior at Hayden High School. Polly Kate had wins at both the AJGO Grand National Junior and the Holiday Junior Classic. She also had a top-20 finish at the Alabama Girls State Junior Championship and earned a place in the Round of 16 at the Alabama Women’s State Amateur.    
 
Grace Engel, 2023, of Huntsville is a freshman at Samford University in Birmingham. Grace qualified for the U.S. Girls Junior and had a top ten finish at the Alabama Girls State Junior Championship with rounds of 73-71-74. She had multiple top-five finishes on the SJGT, including a T3 finish at the SJGT Championship. 
 
Kiersten Riggins, 2025, of Trussville is a junior at Trussville High School. She had multiple top-five finishes on the AJGA and SJGT Junior Tours including a victory at the SJGT Mossy Oak Junior Classic and a runner-up finish at the AJGA Greenwood Preview. Kiersten also had top-25 finishes at both the Alabama Girls State Junior Championship and Alabama Women’s Stroke Play. 
 
About the Alabama Golf Association (AGA)
The Alabama Golf Association is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1915 whose mission is to serve and promote amateur golf in Alabama. AGA membership consists of over 120 member clubs represented by over 28,000 individuals. The activities and services of the Alabama Golf Association are governed by a Board of Directors consisting of Alabama golfers who wish to serve the game and the association through service. 
 
AGA is the USGA's liaison for golf in Alabama conducting national championship qualifying, administering the USGA Handicap system including the GHIN Handicap service, course & slope rating and education. The AGA annually conducts 23 championships and team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. The AGA also conducts Alabama high school golf championships and assists with many collegiate events including the SEC Men's Golf Championship. In addition to competitions, the AGA administers the AGA College Scholarship Fund that is dedicated to assisting young golfers in higher education and supports the Alabama Turfgrass Research Foundation. 
  
Since 1980, the AGA has managed the affairs of the Southern Golf Association which includes conducting the Southern Amateur Championship and Southern Junior Championship, in conjunction with the Board of Directors of the Southern Golf Association. 
 
For more information about the Alabama Golf Association, visit www.alabamagolf.org. 
   
Media Contact:
Savannah Russo
Manager of Media, Marketing & Communications
Alabama Golf Association
205-803-6524
savannah@alabamagolf.org