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Terra Cotta Invitational tees off in Naples with top junior golfers
TL;DR
The 30th annual Terra Cotta Invitational is taking place in Naples, featuring the best field of junior golfers in its history. Ranked as the 10th best amateur tournament in the U.S., it has become a must-play event for top players.
The 30th annual Terra Cotta Invitational, one of the nation's top amateur tournaments, returns to Naples this week with the best field of golfers in its history.
And that's high praise for an event that in recent years has attracted an ever-increasing number of the sport's top junior, mid-amateur, and collegiate players.
"It really is fabulous," tournament director Denny Glass said. "It's become a must-play event for the juniors.
"We're ranked as the 10th best amateur in the U.S., not including collegiate events. That's really quite a compliment. "
Luke Colton of Texas poses with the trophy after winning the Terra Cotta Invitational at Naples National Gulf Club in Naples, Fla., on Sunday, April 6, 2025. Colton is only the second person to win in back-to-back years.
The 54-hole stroke play tournament starts Thursday, April 16 and runs through Saturday, April 18 at Naples National Golf Club. The 71-player field includes eight of the top 10 golfers in the Rolex American Junior Golf Association rankings, 24 Rolex Junior All-Americans and five members of the 2026 U.S. National Junior Team.
Two-time defending champion Luke Colton of Frisco, Texas, will attempt to become the first golfer to win the Terra Cotta three times in a row. Last year, Colton won the event going away, shooting 14-under, a score that tied current LIV Golf League pro Caleb Surrat for the lowest 54-hole score at the Terra Cotta. Another top golfer in the field is Florida State commit Miles Russell, the No. 1-ranked junior in the nation. In March, the 17-year-old became the first boys golfer to win the prestigious Sage Valley Junior Invitational for a second consecutive year.
Five Naples golfers will also be competing at the Terra Cotta: mid-amatuer Brian Bassett, a five-time Naples National Club champion; current University of Florida golfer and Gulf Coast High graduate Noah Kent, who finished second in last year's U.S. Amateur; Barron Collier's Jack Ryan Donovan, the reigning Southwest Florida Boys Golfer of the Year; Community School of Naples senior Spencer Ives; and Marco Island Academy sophomore Kaden Latrielle.
Jack Ryan Donovan of Barron Collier is the Southwest Florida All-Area boys golfer of the year.
The public is welcome to attend the Terra Cotta Invitational. Admission is free, and the tournament will once again donate to a Naples-area children's charity.
Round 1 pairings
Hole 1
7:30 a.m.: Jack Ryan Donovan, Landon Ashcraft, Kaden Latrielle
7:40 a.m.: Drew Woolworth, Macaulay Myers, Jackson Ormond
7:50 a.m.: Spencer Ives, Parker Severs, Kuan Zhou
8 a.m.: Brooks Simmons, Dawson Law, Rodrigo Vazquez
8:10 a.m.: Cameron Kuchar, Evan Liu, Davis Wotnosky
8:20 a.m.: Ayden Fynaut, Tyler Mawhinney, Asher Vargas
8:40 a.m.: Parker Bell, Christian Cavaliere, Daniel Faccini
8:50 a.m.: Joshua Bai, Trevor Gutschewski, Luke Ringkamp
9 a.m.: Jessy Huebner, Jack Brown, Guiseppe Puebla
9:10 a.m.: Luke Colton, Miles Russell, Noah Kent
9:20 a.m.: Hugo Thyr, Brian Bassett, Steele Dewald
9:30 a.m.: Jonathan Bale, Todd White, Bobby Leopold
Hole 10
7:30 a.m.: Rory Asselta, William Lisle, Jonathan Ward
7:40 a.m.: Michael Walsh, Jesse Hellring, Sage Bradshaw
7:50 a.m.: Mason An, Sam Carraher
8 a.m.: Bailey Sutter, Luke Powell, Phillip Dunham
8:10 a.m.: Emile Lebrun, Thomas Grenier, Spencer Shropshire
8:20 a.m.: Max Emberson, Nicholas Logis, Ryan Hooker
8:40 a.m.: Mike Calef, Connor Doyal, Sean Keeling
8:50 a.m.: Austin Krahn, Jack Barber, Will Davenport
9 a.m.: Nate Gahman, Christian Brand, Chase Bauer
9:10 a.m.: Matt Vogt, Marian Ludwig, Nick Maccario
9:20 a.m.: Miles Eubanks, Drake Harvey, Lucas Gimenez
9:30 a.m.: Jaden Peterson, Ryan Terry, Josiah Hakala
Contact Sports Reporter Dan DeLuca atddeluca@usatodayco.com. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow@newspresssportsand@ndnprepzoneon Instagram.
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Terra Cotta Invitational includes nation's top junior, amateur golfers
Q&A
What is the Terra Cotta Invitational and why is it significant?
The Terra Cotta Invitational is a prestigious amateur golf tournament in Naples, ranked as the 10th best in the U.S., attracting top junior, mid-amateur, and collegiate players.
Who is the tournament director of the Terra Cotta Invitational?
Denny Glass is the tournament director of the Terra Cotta Invitational.
How many years has the Terra Cotta Invitational been held?
The Terra Cotta Invitational is celebrating its 30th annual event this year.
What makes this year's Terra Cotta Invitational unique?
This year's event features the best field of golfers in its history, highlighting its growing reputation among top amateur tournaments.
