The VSGA Amateur visits Bayville in June
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Rylan Shim is a player worth watching at the upcoming VSGA Amateur. P. 6 compiled by CHRIS LANG
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Defending Champion Liam Maclauchlan prepares for his return to the VSGA Amateur at Bayville.
The VSGA Amateur visits Bayville in June
Maclauchlan Readies for
Title Defense by CHRIS LANG
CHRIS LANG( 2)
LIFE CAN CHANGE IN A BLINK, for good and for bad. Liam Maclauchlan experienced the good kind of life-changing week at last year’ s VSGA Amateur Championship, entering the event as a relatively unknown junior golfer and leaving it as champion.
The spoils were numerous. Playing at Birdwood Golf at Boar’ s Head Resort, Maclauchlan caught the eyes of University of Virginia head coach Bowen Sargent and assistant coach Dustin Groves, who were on property scouting juniors from across the Commonwealth. By the time he clinched a one-up victory over veteran Justin Young, Maclauchlan was no longer an unknown commodity.
His display of impressive shot making and tenacious competitiveness made quite an impression on the Cavaliers’ staff, and by the time summer hit its peak, Maclauchlan committed to play for the Cavaliers.( Because he’ s still a high-school junior, Maclauchlan cannot officially sign with UVA until November.)
Maclauchlan seems poised to turn the page to 2026. He’ ll enter the 113th VSGA Amateur Championship at Bayville Golf Club with
a rare opportunity to repeat as champion. He’ s the first player to try to defend his title since Ross Funderburke in 2023. The last three champions who have come back to play the next year failed to make match play the second time around.( Trey Smith, the 2018 champ, withdrew due to injury after the first qualifying round the following year. He’ s back in the field this year.)
“ It’ s golf, you’ ve got to keep practicing, keep grinding,” Maclauchlan said of his expectations for this year.“ There are always kids getting better. So I’ m trying to do the same thing. I’ ve been putting in a lot of work in the offseason and I’ m excited to see it pay off. … Last year was amazing, and hopefully I can have a similar season.”
The last repeat VSGA Amateur champion was Brinson Paolini, who won the last of his three straight titles in 2010. Other repeat winners this century were Billy Hurley III( 2004 – 05) and Jay Woodson( 2002 – 03). Coincidentally, Woodson has spent time as a coach and mentor for Maclauchlan.
vsga. org M AY / J UNE 2026 | V IRGINIA G OLFER 5