SPARKS, Nev.–Boden Goicoechea (Boys 15-18), Quincy Leland (Girls 15-18), Harrison Tran (Boys 13-14) and Makenzie Snow (Girls 13-14) earned titles in the 2026 Nevada State Junior Amateur. The tournament was held July 6-8, 2026, at the Lakes Course at Red Hawk Golf & Resort.–by Bill Bowman
Boys 15-18
Boden Goicoechea fired a two-under-par 34 on the final nine holes of the tournament to force a playoff and went on to win with an eagle on the first playoff hole.
“It was fun to win and fun going into a playoff,” said Goicoechea who will be a senior at Elko High School this fall where he has been part of two state championship teams.
“This will definitely be a big boost for my confidence going into my senior year,” he said.
Goicoechea went into the playoff after Jacob Reyes, who was eight-under through 14 holes in the final round, struggled down the stretch and the two ended up in a playoff.
Goicoechea said getting into the playoff gave him a shot in the arm.
“I knew the 10th, a par-5, was playing at least one-under all week so I would need at least a birdie to have a chance,” he said.
He did one better, posting an eagle to clinch the victory.
“I hit the best five-iron of my life from 196 yards to about five or six feet,” he said. “Making the eagle was just a great feeling.”
He said getting into the playoff was a battle.
“I shot two-over on the front,” he said. “I figured I would have to shoot two-under on the back to have a chance and that’s what I did. I birdied 10 and 11 and was even-par on 12 through 18 with two more birdies and two bogeys. I just tried to get in at even-par to see what happens.”
Boys 15-18
x-Boden Goicoechea, 74-74-72—220
Jacob Reyes, 73-79-68—220
Mason Jensen, 72-74-75—221
x-Won on first playoff hole
Girls 15-18
An even-par back-nine, including pars on the final seven holes, helped Quincy Leland get into a playoff where she won on the first playoff hole.
Leland, who won a state tournament for the first time, birdied the 10th and followed with a bogey on the 11th before her run of pars.
Leland will be a sophomore this fall at Bishop Manogue in Reno.
Leland’s opening round helped get her in a positive frame of mind. She had four birdies and five pars in a nine-hole stretch in the first round to get off to a solid start.
“It was cool,” she said of the first round. “But it can be stressful when you’re playing well because I’m afraid I’m going to mess it up.”
She said her play all three days was good.
“I just went out and tried to have fun and stay relaxed,” she said. “It sure seems the round goes better if you’re relaxed.”
She parred the playoff hole after missing a birdie putt.
“I’ve been in a playoff before but it was in a lower-level tournament,” she said. “I just tried to prepare myself. There were quite a few people there and I wanted to do well because my family was watching. They’ve seen me play good and bad so I just wanted to go out, stay relaxed and just do the best I can.”
Girls 15-18
x-Quincy Leland, 75-80-76—231
Allison Mortimeyer, 73-77-81—231
Lulu Escobar, 79-79-74—232
x-Won on first playoff hole
Boys 13-14
Harrison Tran opened the tournament with an even-par 72 and cruised to a 27-shot victory in the Boys 13-14 Division.
Tran, who represents Southern Nevada Youth on Course, will be an eighth grader this fall at Southern Highlands Prep School.
He won his first state title and said he was happy posting three rounds in the 70s.
“I just tried to make sure and hit it straight off the tee and make sure my putting was good overall,” Tran said. “Everything came together.”
Tran said his prep work for the tournament paid off.
“I watched a few videos about the course and that helped,” he said. “It was my first time playing the course and I was impressed with how I played.”
Tran added he hit his stride early in the tournament.
“On the back nine the first day I really started to focus and hit good shots and made some putts,” he said.
He said the win will help his mindset going forward.
“It boosts my confidence for sure,” he said. “Going into more state championships I’ll definitely be better prepared.”
Boys 13-14
Harrison Tran, 72-77-73—222
Lukas Theumer, 86-77-86—249
Reece Wilson, 81-83-85—249
Girls 13-14
Makenzie Snow birdied three holes in a four-hole stretch in the final round in winning the Girls 13-14 Division.
Snow represents the SNJGA and will be an eighth grader at Barry And June Gunderson Middle School this fall.
Snow, who won by 10 strokes, said her first state title is one she’s worked hard to win.
“I just tried to harness all the hard work I’ve been putting in and it paid off,” she said.
She said working her way around the course was a challenge.
“There were a lot of tricky holes,” she said. “I definitely kept my composure and kept my emotions flat. The greens were challenging and making two putts on them was important.”
Snow also said she played smart golf.
“There were some points where I found myself in tricky lies,” she said. “I just tried my best to get myself back into play.”
Snow added her confidence is growing.
“Swinging well and shooting good scores makes me feel good about myself,” she said. “This was my first time playing in the Nevada State Junior Amateur and to win is great. It shows my hard work is paying off.”
Girls 13-14
Makenzie Snow, 83-81-74—238
Kadence Cole, 81-84-83—248
Chloe Virgil, 86-81-86—253
