Ryan Howe, Ellie Kim Claim Championship Titles Following Dramatic Final-Round Performances as Junior Golfers Compete for 2027 FCG Callaway World Championship Exemptions
GOLETA, CA – October 25, 2026 – Future Champions Golf (FCG) celebrated another outstanding weekend of championship junior golf as the 18th Annual FCG Central Coast World Series Championship brought a talented field of junior golfers to the spectacular Sandpiper Golf Club in Goleta, California, October 24–25, 2026.
Set along the beautiful Pacific coastline just north of Santa Barbara, Sandpiper provided a memorable championship setting for competitors traveling from throughout California, across the United States, and Canada.
The two-day, 36-hole championship featured outstanding scoring, impressive final-round comebacks, and dramatic finishes in both the Boys and Girls College Prep divisions.
As part of the FCG World Series, the championship also provided valuable opportunities for players to earn exemptions into the prestigious 2027 FCG Callaway World Championship, where junior golfers from around the world will come together in Southern California.
Boys College Prep: Ryan Howe and Ty Smock Finish Tied at 7-Under-Par
The Boys College Prep division produced one of the most exciting finishes of the championship, with Ryan Howe of Cheney, Washington, and Ty Smock of Coronado, California, both completing 36 holes at an outstanding 7-under-par 137.
Howe opened with a 2-under-par 70 before delivering an impressive final-round 67 to finish at 137.
Smock produced the lowest round of the entire Boys College Prep competition, firing a spectacular 7-under-par 65 on Sunday after opening with a 72. His final-round performance represented a seven-shot improvement and propelled him into a tie at the top of the leaderboard.
Both players demonstrated exceptional scoring ability and composure in championship conditions.
Luke MacDonald of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, also delivered a terrific performance, following an opening-round 68 with a final-round 72 to finish third at 4-under-par 140.
Aidan Peters of Ventura, California, made a strong final-round charge of his own, shooting 67 on Sunday to finish fourth at 3-under-par 141.
Local competitor Connor Nightingale of Goleta, California, rounded out the top five with consecutive rounds of 72 for an even-par total of 144.
Boys College Prep – Top Finishers
T1. Ryan Howe – Cheney, WA
- Round 1: 70
- Round 2: 67
- Total: 137 (-7)
T1. Ty Smock – Coronado, CA
- Round 1: 72
- Round 2: 65
- Total: 137 (-7)
3. Luke MacDonald – Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Round 1: 68
- Round 2: 72
- Total: 140 (-4)
Additional Notable Performances
- Aidan Peters of Ventura, CA, shot a final-round 67 to finish fourth at 141 (-3).
- Connor Nightingale of Goleta, CA, finished fifth at even-par 144.
- Youngjoo Bahn of Irvine, CA, improved nine shots from his opening round, posting a final-round 68 to finish tied for sixth at 145 (+1).
- Axl Wedhammar of Goleta, CA, and Connor Mundy of Chula Vista, CA, joined Bahn in a three-way tie for sixth at 145 (+1).
- Hank Donnelly of Park City, UT, rebounded from an opening 79 with a final-round 70, improving nine shots.
The depth of competition was particularly impressive, with five players finishing at even par or better and eight players finishing within eight shots of the leading score.
Girls College Prep: Ellie Kim Fires Final-Round 66 to Share Top Score With Rhyan Heine
The Girls College Prep championship delivered another dramatic finish, highlighted by a remarkable final-round performance from Ellie Kim of Valencia, California.
Kim entered the final round following an opening 75 but produced a sensational 6-under-par 66 on Sunday, improving nine shots and finishing the championship at 3-under-par 141.
Her 66 was the lowest round recorded in the Girls College Prep division and one of the most impressive performances of the entire weekend.
Rhyan Heine of Aliso Viejo, California, was equally impressive in her consistency, following an opening-round 71 with a final-round 70 to also finish at 3-under-par 141.
Both Kim and Heine finished tied for the lowest 36-hole score in the division.
Emma Modglin of Simi Valley, California, finished third after rounds of 69 and 74 for a 1-under-par total of 143.
Soleil Stovall of Rolling Hills Estates, California, finished fourth at even-par 144, while Taylor Heine of Aliso Viejo, California, completed the top five at 1-over-par 145.
Girls College Prep – Top Finishers
T1. Ellie Kim – Valencia, CA
- Round 1: 75
- Round 2: 66
- Total: 141 (-3)
T1. Rhyan Heine – Aliso Viejo, CA
- Round 1: 71
- Round 2: 70
- Total: 141 (-3)
3. Emma Modglin – Simi Valley, CA
- Round 1: 69
- Round 2: 74
- Total: 143 (-1)
Additional Notable Performances
- Soleil Stovall of Rolling Hills Estates, CA, finished fourth with rounds of 73 and 71 for an even-par 144.
- Taylor Heine of Aliso Viejo, CA, finished fifth at 145 (+1).
- Jessica Yue of Chino Hills, CA, fired a final-round 69 to finish sixth at 147 (+3), improving nine shots from her opening round.
- Adelyn Choi of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, finished seventh at 150 (+6).
- Sarah Lee of Rolling Hills, CA, finished eighth at 151 (+7).
The Girls College Prep division featured three players under par and four at even par or better, highlighting the strength of the field.
Players Earn Exemptions Into the 2027 FCG Callaway World Championship
One of the most exciting opportunities available through FCG World Series events is the pathway to the FCG Callaway World Championship.
The top two finishing positions in each division earn exemptions into the following year’s World Championship, with all players tied for a qualifying position receiving an exemption.
Based on the official 36-hole results, the following players earned exemptions:
Boys College Prep Qualifiers
- Ryan Howe – Cheney, WA – 137 (-7)
- Ty Smock – Coronado, CA – 137 (-7)
- Luke MacDonald – Calgary, Alberta, Canada – 140 (-4)
Girls College Prep Qualifiers
- Ellie Kim – Valencia, CA – 141 (-3)
- Rhyan Heine – Aliso Viejo, CA – 141 (-3)
- Emma Modglin – Simi Valley, CA – 143 (-1)
Congratulations to all six players on earning their places in the 2027 FCG Callaway World Championship!
The FCG Callaway World Championship continues to grow as a premier international junior golf event, welcoming talented players from around the globe to compete against the best in their respective age divisions.
18 Years of Championship Golf on California’s Central Coast
The FCG Central Coast World Series Championship has become a longstanding tradition on the Future Champions Golf tournament calendar.
Now in its 18th year, the championship continues to attract talented junior golfers seeking elite competition, college recruiting exposure, and opportunities to advance through the FCG tournament pathway.
Sandpiper Golf Club provides a truly special setting, combining challenging championship golf with dramatic coastal scenery.
The event also reflects the growing geographic reach of Future Champions Golf, with players traveling from states including Washington, Oregon, Utah, Arizona, Montana, and Hawaii, along with competitors from Canada.
FCG continues to expand its tournament opportunities throughout the United States and internationally, creating a connected pathway from regional competition to major championships and the world stage.
More Than a Tournament: Building the Future of Junior Golf
At Future Champions Golf, the mission extends far beyond tournament results.
Each championship provides young athletes with opportunities to challenge themselves, develop confidence, learn valuable life lessons, and gain experience competing against talented players from different regions and countries.
For many competitors, events such as the Central Coast World Series represent important steps toward their long-term goals of playing college golf.
Through FCG’s growing network of tournaments, international partnerships, championship exemptions, and recruiting technology, players have more opportunities than ever to pursue those goals.
Campus: The College Golf Recruiting Home Base for Every Junior Golfer
Future Champions Golf is proud to feature Campus, its college golf recruiting technology partner, helping junior golfers connect their competitive achievements with opportunities to play at the collegiate level.
Campus is a modern, video-first college golf recruiting platform designed to help junior golfers, families, and college coaches navigate the recruiting process more effectively.
Every junior golfer can create a FREE Campus profile to begin building their recruiting presence, with an optional Campus+ upgrade for players who want access to additional recruiting tools.
Through Campus, players can:
- Create a personal college golf recruiting profile featuring videos, tournament results, academic information, and athletic achievements.
- Explore college golf programs and identify schools that fit their goals.
- Build their recruiting journey in one centralized location.
- Access additional recruiting features and resources through Campus+.
College coaches can also access Campus for free, helping them discover and evaluate prospective student-athletes.
As Future Champions Golf continues expanding its global tournament network, Campus provides an important connection between junior golf competition and college recruiting opportunities.
Junior Golfers and Parents: Create your free recruiting profile at https://gocampus.io
College Coaches: Claim your program page and explore Campus at https://gocampus.io/coaches
Thank You to Our Players, Families, and Partners
Future Champions Golf would like to congratulate every competitor who participated in the 18th Annual FCG Central Coast World Series Championship.
Special thanks to the team at Sandpiper Golf Club for hosting another memorable weekend of junior golf, along with the families, coaches, and supporters who continue making these championship experiences possible.
We look forward to welcoming players back to future FCG World Series events as the Road to the 2027 FCG Callaway World Championship continues!
About Future Champions Golf
Founded by PGA Professional Chris Smeal, Future Champions Golf is an internationally recognized junior golf tournament organization dedicated to developing the next generation of competitive golfers.
Through its Kids Tour, National Tour, World Series, International Majors, and World Championship events, FCG provides competitive opportunities for junior golfers of all ages and abilities.
With an expanding network of tournaments and international qualifying partnerships, FCG connects young golfers to championship experiences, college recruiting opportunities, and pathways to higher levels of competition.
Learn More: https://www.futurechampionsgolf.com
College Recruiting: https://gocampus.io