Scarsdale sophomore Sam Gao is quickly becoming one of New York's rising golf stars.
Fresh off winning the 84th New York State Junior Amateur Championship, Gao was named to lohud's 2026 Section 1 Boys Golf All-Star First Team, joining six of the region's top high school golfers.
The honor caps a remarkable stretch for Gao. Less than two weeks before the all-star team was announced, he captured the prestigious state junior amateur title at the Cavalry Club, firing rounds of 67, 69, and 69 to finish at 11-under-par and win by three strokes. After starting the final round one shot back, Gao grabbed the lead with a birdie on No. 2 and all but sealed the championship with a near hole-out on the 18th before tapping in for birdie.
"I'm personally in shock," Gao told the New York State Golf Association after the victory. "This is really huge."
His summer triumph followed another standout performance during the high school season, when he tied for seventh at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship, helping cement his place among Section 1's elite.
Gao wasn't the only local golfer recognized. Fellow Scarsdale sophomore Luke Dhingra earned honorable mention, while Bronxville juniors Tim Kenny and Thomas Ruhahen also made the all-star list.
The best news for local fans? Gao, Dhingra, Kenny, and Ruhahen are all underclassmen, giving Scarsdale and Bronxville plenty to look forward to when they return to the links next season.
