GJAC Founder - Joan Teats
Joan Teats
(1924-2012)
In addition to founding the Washington Junior Golf Association in 1977, Joan also founded the Girls Junior Americas Cup in 1978. The boys enjoyed a version of this tournament for many years, and being “all about the girls”, Joan decided it was time to create a similar tournament where girls could showcase their team talents for college coaches. Charter members of the GJAC tournament were; Northern California, San Diego, British Columbia, Southern California, Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Southern Nevada, Idaho, Alberta and Northern Nevada. GJAC has grown since then to 18 teams, all located in the Western part of the US, Canada and Mexico. This tournament is heavily recruited by College Coaches and a launch pad for elite junior girl golfers!
In 2024, a new award was created to honor Joan called the "Joan Teats Inspiration Award."
This award Is given annually to the team best exhibiting the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, honesty, friendship, and respect. All the qualities that Joan exhibited throughout her life.
PAST WINNERS
2014 – Hawaii - Kristen Lei, Mari Nishiura, Aiko Leong and Malia Nam
2015 – Montana - Teigan Avery, Hayden Flohr, Coral Schulz and Morgan O’Neil
2016 – So. Nevada - Annick Haczkiewicz, Sydney Smith, Danielle Oberlander and Ashley Lung
2017 – Wyoming - Kynsie Valdez, Victoria Owings, Jocelyn Olson and Caleigh Essert
2018 – Oregon - Mary Scott Wolfe, Olivia Loberg, Victoria Gailey and Olivia Venderby
2019 – San Diego - Kathleen Keomahavong, Napua Gossner, Nicole Neale, Estibaly Garcia-Rubio
2020 – Canceled COVID
2021 – Hawaii - Leia Chung, Kara Kaneshiro, Teal Matsueda and Ashley Koga
2022 – Idaho – Brooke Patterson, Kelli Ann Strand, Maddie Montoya and Chloe Singpraseuth
2023 – No. Nevada – Rya Montoya, Ashley Tarkanian, Giana Zinke and Ella Rawson
2024 – No. California – Sparrow Pierzina, Pepper Chair, Savannah Van Gaalen, Chloe Ku
2025 – Washington – Esther Yu, Nadalie Cannell, Anna Duerr and Ira Upadhyay (Pictured Below)