Prize money and world-pathway stakes lift fifth U.S. Kids Indian Championship at Classic

Nearly 100 young golfers are set to tee off in the fifth edition of the U.S. Kids Golf Indian Championship, which for the first time will offer prize money within the rules for amateurs at Classic Golf & Country Club from December 17–19. The three-day event at the Jack Nicklaus-designed layout will feature 13 age categories, all paying out to fifth place, plus a special two-day Skills Contest.

The WAGR-recognised championship also serves as a pathway to priority status for the 2026 U.S. Kids European Championship in Scotland and the U.S. Kids Teen and World Championships at Pinehurst in the United States. Winners in each age group will receive ₹25,000, runners-up ₹10,000, and those finishing third to fifth ₹5,000 each, with additional cash prizes on offer in the Skills Contest.

“Beyond customised trophies and giveaways, these cash prizes are an incentive from our side,” said Rajesh Srivastava, President, U.S. Kids Golf India and Asia. He added that from 2026, more local events in India will also offer prize money, with the domestic schedule planned to grow from six to at least 12 tournaments alongside 12–18 events already staged elsewhere in Asia.

Srivastava said the global brand’s customised yardages and equipment are designed to “give youngsters the right encouragement to achieve their potential at every stage of their golf career.” The field features several established junior names, including Arshvant Srivastava, Prince Bainsla and Bhavesh Nirwan in Boys 15–18; Vidit Aggarwal in Boys 13–14; Adit Veeramachaneni, Sohrab Talwar and Siddhant Sharma in Boys 12; and Drona Singh Dhull and Vedaansh Jain in Boys 11 and 10 respectively. Pocket dynamos Nihal Cheema and Zowra Sikand headline Boys 8, while Naasyha S Sinha leads Girls 8.

Among the girls, Aahana Srivastava and Aadya Kaushal (Girls 9–10), Aanya Dandriyal (Girls 11–12), Shambhavi Chaturvedi, Rabab Kahlon and Naina Kapoor (Girls 13–14), and Kriti Parekh (Girls 15–18) are among those to watch, alongside a wider group of local-event winners and emerging talents. Players from Singapore, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines and India will compete from Under-7 to Under-18 on tees adjusted to age as per the U.S. Kids Golf charter.

Now a WAGR and Junior Golf Scoreboard-recognised event, the Indian Championship underlines its rising status on the global junior calendar. U.S. Kids Golf pathways have helped shape careers of stars such as Scottie Scheffler, Collin Morikawa, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas, Akshay Bhatia, Aaron Rai and Cameron Young, as well as leading women including Lexi Thompson, Cheyenne Woods, Brittany Altomare, Alison Corpuz and Indian standouts Aditi Ashok and Avani Prashanth.