For the second year in a row Braeden Nelson of West Des Moines has been crowned Iowa Golf Association Junior Boys’ Player of the Year. Nelson has had a year to say the least, coming out on top over Parker Rodgers by 135 points.

As a freshman for Valley High School, Nelson finished runner-up at the 2023 IHSAA 4A Tournament at Otter Creek Golf Course, Ankeny. He carded +2 over the course of the two days.

Nelson finished T2 at the 87th rendition of the Iowa Masters in Ames carding 209 (-7) over three rounds and T50 in the 122nd Iowa Amateur hosted by Finkbine Golf Course with a three-round total of 220 (+4). In addition he also finished T3 in the U.S. Open Local Qualifying shooting 70 (-1) at Crow Valley Golf Club.

Nelson played in several American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) events throughout the summer with solid success.

At the Austin Minnesota Junior Championships presented by Hormel Foods Nelson finished T7 carding a 214 (-2) over three rounds contested at Austin Country Club, Austin MN.

He later competed in the Under Armour/Jordan Spieth Championship, at Brookhaven Country Club, Farmers Branch, TX finishing 216 (+3) T16.

In the Justin Thomas Junior Championship held at Harmony Landing Country Club in Goshen, KY, Nelson finished T12 carding 210 (-3).

Nelson played in the 91st Iowa Open hosted by the PGA of America at Blue Top Ridge, Riverside and finished solo 8th carding 221 (+5).

One would think obtaining another IGA Junior Player of the Year title will give him the confidence along with the momentum to excel in the 2025 season.

Ainsley Wilson may be only 14, but she showed everyone she can compete which led her to earn IGA Junior Girls’ Player of the Year honors in 2024. Wison, of Iowa City, a rising high school freshman stood at the top of several leaderboards this summer.

Wilson not only competed in IGA tournaments, but also Iowa Junior PGA Junior Tour  and American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) tournaments and racked up quite an impressive resumé.

Throughout the IGA schedule, Wilson was T2 at the Iowa Girls’ Junior at Coldwater Golf Links, carding a three round total of 216 (+3).

Later in the summer Wilson would showcase her length as a 14-year old at the 100th Iowa Women’s Amateur, at Sunnyside Country Club, Waterloo. She would post a 54-hole total of 233 (+16) good enough for T16th.

Wilson also made a statement on the Iowa Junior PGA Tour racking up four top five finishes and a T6 finish. 

A highlight from her play was her win at the Spring Junior Open, contested at Elmwood Country Club, Marshalltown, and Ames Golf & Country Club. Her two-day total of 154 (+14) earned her the title. She also was runner-up at the John Deere Classic Junior, TPC Deere Run, Silvis IL.

In AJGA play Wilson walked away with two top-10 finishes from events that took place across the nation.

She placed 5th at the AJGA Junior All-Star at Quail Creek Presented by City of Robinson, Quail Creek Country Club & Resort, Robinson, IL. Wilson would have two rounds under par and rack up a three day total of 215 (-1).

Wilson would use this momentum and card a 218 (+5) to finish sixth at the AJAG Wichita Junior Championship presented by TGC Group, Terradyne Country Club, in Andover, KS.

Wilson placed fourth in the 2024 Midwest Junior Championship, Finkbine Golf Course, Iowa City carding 227 (+11). Along with a T10 finish shooting 81 (+9) in the U.S. Girls Qualifier hosted by Champions Run, Omaha.

Iowa Junior PGA of America:

• 1st 154 (+14) Spring JR Open Elmwood CC, Marshalltown and Ames G&CC, Ames
• T3 83 (+11) Principal Charity Classic Junior Open, Glen Oaks, WDM
• Runner-up John Deere Classic JR, TPC Deere Run, Silvis IL
• T6 148 (+8) 48th Iowa Girls Junior PGA Championship, Elmcrest CC, CR
• T3 76 (+4) Junior Tour Midsummer Classic, Des Moines G&CC, WDM

American Junior Golf Association (AJGA):

• Fifth 215 (-1) AJGA Junior All-Star At Quail Creek Presented by City of Robinson, Quail Creek Country Club & Resort, Robinson, IL
• T12 226 (+13) UHY ST. Louis Junior, Franklin County CC, Washington, MO
• Sixth 218 (+5) AJGA Wichita Junior Championship Presented by TGC Group, Terradyne CC Andover, KS

Other:

• 4th 227 (+11) at 2024 Midwest Junior Championship, Finkbine Golf Course, Iowa City
• T10 81 (+9) US Girls Qualifier Champions Run, Omaha   

Wilson has made her mark across multiple states in her freshman high school season and will be chasing a state title here come the spring of 2025.