Off the Green With Orla: A Shining Example of Passion and Determination

Leah Gram is a 14-year-old South Florida PGA Callaway Medalist Tour junior golfer who radiates joy both on and off the golf course. With her bright smile and infectious enthusiasm, she has quickly become a standout, not just for her golf accomplishments but also for the energy she brings to everyone around her.


Leah’s passion for golf began when she was just six years old, when her father, a former collegiate golfer at the College of Charleston, introduced her to the game. Born in New York to parents originally from Sweden, Leah and her family later moved to Florida. It all started with junior clinics at Abacoa Golf Club in Jupiter, where she fell in love with the game. By the time she was nine, Leah had joined the SFPGA Junior Tour, and her family has been by her side, supporting her every step of the way.


"Golf became a special bond for me and my dad," Leah reflects. "He’s always there cheering me on."


Her steady dedication to the sport soon paid off. Between 2020 and 2022, Leah earned three consecutive top-10 finishes at the U.S. Kids World Championship, setting the stage for what would become a remarkable junior golf career.


In 2023, Leah was a Drive, Chip and Putt finalist, a feat that took her to Augusta National during Masters week—a dream come true for any young golfer. To make the experience even more memorable, she was able to bring her extended family from Sweden, connecting her love for golf with her deep-rooted heritage. Fluent in Swedish, Leah proudly carries her family’s background.


This year, Leah has shined brightly on the SFPGA Junior Tour, winning two Callaway Medalist Tour events and capturing the prestigious Nicklaus Junior Championship, an SFPGA Junior Tour Major. As one of the youngest in the field, she shot an impressive 76-73—149 to seal her victory. She also showcased her skills on the SFPGA Section side, finishing in the top five with her partner, Derek Niszczak, PGA, at the annual Pro-Junior event.


Leah has also competed in several other high-profile events, including the 2024 Florida Women's Amateur, where she was the youngest contestant, and the Florida Girls Championship, where she placed in the top-10 for her age group.


As a freshman at William T. Dwyer High School, Leah balances her academic and athletic commitments with ease. She plays on the varsity golf and volleyball teams while maintaining her straight-A status.


While Leah is incredibly focused on her golf career, she’s still very much a teenage girl who loves to shop and enjoys good food.


"I love shopping," she shares with a smile. "But when I'm on the course, I'm determined and focused. I want to keep pushing myself, and my dream is to play collegiate golf and eventually make it onto the LPGA."


Beyond her love for the game, Leah is also passionate about giving back. She’s involved in Fore All Junior Golf Foundation, which directly supports programs like First Tee and Youth on Course, which help make golf more accessible for young players who might not have had the same opportunities she has. 


“Golf is such a great sport, but unfortunately, some people don’t have the same accessibility to equipment and courses,” she says. “I want to help change that.”


Leah’s message to younger golfers is simple but heartfelt:


“Never give up, even if you feel burnt out. Just remember that this game is a skill you could have for the rest of your life while building lifelong friendships and connections.”


With a bright future ahead of her, she exemplifies the commitment, discipline and drive that define South Florida PGA Junior Tour athletes. There’s no doubt Leah will continue to inspire her peers, both on and off the golf course. 



Share this story

March 29, 2026
WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Haoting Zhou, Petra Compton and Eli Widom earned division titles at the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event, held March 28-29, 2026, at Okeeheelee Golf Course. With the poor weather on Sunday, the second round was cancelled and champions were crowned based on round 1 scores. Boys 13–18 Division In the Boys 13–18 Division, Haoting Zhou of Boca Raton earned the title after an opening round of 2-under. Based on the round one score, Zhou won by one shot over Jack Zeder of Coral Gables, who carded a 1-under total in the first round. Zhou’s performance earned him his first champion title on the Medalist Tour since joining the Junior Tour in 2022. Girls 13–18 Division In the Girls 13–18 Division, Petra Compton of Palmetto Bay was crowned champion after an opening round score of even-par. Compton won by two shots over Sophia Christy of Palm Beach Gardens due to a round two cancellation. This win marks Compton’s second win of the 2026 Medalist Tour Season, the first being at the Links at Boynton Beach on February 7-8. Boys 11–12 Division In the Boys 11–12 Division, Eli Widom of Parkland carded a first-round score of 2-over. Due to a round 2 cancellation, Widom remained in the first-place spot, winning by five strokes over Deven Allen of 7-over. This is the second time Widom has won this season, with his first also being at the Links of Boynton Beach on February 7-8. The Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour welcomed 51 boys and 24 girls across three divisions. The field combined for a total of one eagle and 137 birdies with a total scoring average of 80.78. The Medalist Tour, the premier membership-based junior golf program of the South Florida PGA Foundation, will continue its season April 11-12, 2026, at Eagle Trace Golf Club. Event Photos | Event Leaderboard
March 15, 2026
BOCA RATON, FL – Bento Assis of Porto Alegre, Brazil, and Lilly Parker of North Palm Beach earned division titles at the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, held March 14–15, 2026 at Osprey Point Golf Course on the Falcon/Hawk Courses. 
February 24, 2026
“When you get an opportunity, take full advantage of it,” Tyler Nagy said. “If you're not taking advantage of every single opportunity that's given to you, then it’s a wasted opportunity.” That philosophy has guided Tyler Nagy since he was named the first recipient of the South Florida PGA Foundation Scholarship in 2018. The scholarship gave him the chance to pursue his education at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida, and focus fully on making the most of his college experience. A valedictorian at Sebastian River High School in Vero Beach, Florida, Nagy had already demonstrated a strong commitment to academics, athletics, and service. The son of PGA Member Bela Nagy, Director of Golf at Sandridge Golf Club in Vero Beach, Florida, he was a natural fit for the scholarship and arrived at Rollins in the fall of 2018, determined to seize every opportunity. Between 2018 and 2021, Nagy earned multiple undergraduate degrees, including a primary degree in mathematics, a secondary degree in public policy, and a minor in data analytics. He remained at Rollins to complete his Master of Business Administration, graduating in 2023 at the top of his class. He was equally committed on the field. A five-year member of the Rollins men’s soccer team, Nagy played in 63 matches and served as captain in his final season, helping lead the program to an Elite Eight appearance — just the third in school history. Off the field, he served on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) and worked as both a tutor and writing advisor. For Nagy, success meant going beyond the minimum. “I tried to do everything I could do academically and athletically,” he shared. “I never wanted to look back and wish I had worked harder.” Attending a private institution came with financial considerations, and Nagy acknowledges that without the South Florida PGA Foundation Scholarship, institutional aid, and Florida’s Bright Futures Scholarship, Rollins may not have been possible. “It was the difference between carrying debt for years and graduating from my undergrad debt-free,” he said. “It opened up an avenue that I never thought was there.” Today, Nagy is pursuing another graduate degree at the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering, completing a master’s program in data science. The degree builds on his professional work in healthcare analytics, where he has advanced from his company’s first data analyst into a leadership role overseeing analytics strategy and decision-making. From scholarship recipient to graduate student and analytics leader, Nagy’s journey reflects the belief that opportunity only matters if you choose to embrace it.  Over the years, the South Florida PGA Foundation has supported nine students in their pursuit of higher education, and the program continues to grow. In 2026, the Foundation increased its scholarship to two $30,000 awards, annually impacting the lives of students in the community.
By Caitlin White February 23, 2026
VERO BEACH, FL – Martin Bustos, Ella Hrbata, and Maxence Le Theo earned division titles at the Srixon South Florida PGA Medalist Tour event, held February 21-22, 2026, at Sandridge Golf Club on the Dunes Course.
By Caitlin White February 8, 2026
BOYNTON BEACH, FL – Monssoh, Compton, and Widom earned division titles at the Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Medalist Tour event, held February 7–8, 2026, at The Links at Boynton Beach on the Champion Course.
By Chance Bressler January 19, 2026
BOYNTON BEACH, FL - Hogan Blais and Angela Nip crowned champions at the 2026 Srixon South Florida PGA Winter Kickoff held January 17-19 at Indian Spring Country Club on the East Course.
By Kelly Elbin January 16, 2026
For Cameron Young and Justin Thomas, whose strong pairing at the 2025 Ryder Cup was preceded by the special memories they gleaned from separate appearances in the Junior Ryder Cup, there was the opportunity to pay it forward to the young golfers of today. This winter, for 24 talented juniors, such largesse on behalf of Young and Thomas will provide them with a riveting competition that begins with the inaugural playing of the Cameron Young/Justin Thomas South Florida PGA Junior Tour Challenge Cup.  Captained by Young and Thomas, this two-day Ryder Cup-style event will feature two teams of 12 players each (eight boys and four girls), and will be held at Emerald Dunes Club in West Palm Beach, Florida. There will be 27 holes of team play on the first day -- 9 holes using the Four-Ball or Best-Ball format; 9 holes utilizing the Scramble format; and 9 holes of Modified Alternate Shot. Twelve 18-hole singles matches will be contested on the final day of competition. The first team to reach 12 1/2 points will claim the Junior Challenge Cup. "Both Justin and I are sons of PGA of America Professionals, so it's really important for us to give back to a new generation of kids," said Young, whose father, David, was the longtime PGA Head Professional at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, New York. In the 2014 Junior Ryder Cup, Cameron Young contributed to a U.S. victory in Scotland. Last September, in his Ryder Cup debut, Young tied for the most individual points earned among the Americans, who fell short to the Europeans on the Black Course at Bethpage State Park in his home state. Cameron Young and Justin Thomas teamed to win one of their two matches at Bethpage, and both captured their singles matches in dramatic fashion on the last day of the matches. Thomas, a two-time winner of the PGA Championship, was on the victorious American side in the 2010 Junior Ryder Cup, also played in Scotland. As is the case with David Young helping shape his son's skills, Thomas has worked closely over the years with his father, PGA of America Professional Mike Thomas. Justin Thomas's late grandfather, Paul, also was a PGA Professional. "Cameron and I had such a great partnership together at the Ryder Cup, and we looked at what we could do with this incredible opportunity through the PGA of America," Thomas said. "With both of us having family associated with the PGA of America, this runs in our blood. I'm excited that Cameron and I can do this together." Building on Thomas’ remarks, leadership from the South Florida PGA emphasized the event’s significance for junior golf in the region. "The South Florida PGA is thrilled to announce this exciting, new event and our partnership with Cameron Young and Justin Thomas," said Eric Veilleux, President of the South Florida PGA and the PGA Director of Golf at The Bear's Club in Jupiter, Florida. "This will be a premier event in junior golf, offering an exciting and competitive playing opportunity for some of the most talented juniors in our Section." Renowned golf course architect Tom Fazio designed Emerald Dunes in 1990 and oversaw renovations to the par-72 layout that were completed in 2012. "We at Emerald Dunes are truly honored to host the inaugural Cameron Young/Justin Thomas South Florida PGA Junior Challenge Cup," said Lee Stroever, the PGA Director of Golf at Emerald Dunes Club and the South Florida PGA Junior Golf Committee Chairperson."We are thrilled to welcome the best juniors in the Section for an experience that they will hopefully long remember and cherish." Eager for the inaugural event, Thomas is both proud to have paid forward the types of competitive opportunities that once came his way as a junior golfer and respectful of the level of talent that will be on display at Emerald Dunes. "I look forward to watching," Thomas said, "and, I'm sure at some point, playing against a lot of these players down the road." Click here to view all criteria and more event details.
By Caitlin White December 19, 2025
West Palm Beach, FL - The Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour is proud to recognize three Medalist Tour members as the 2025 Players of the Year. Through consistent performances, impressive scoring, and success in some of the Tour’s premier events, these players set the standard for excellence throughout the season.
By Caitlin White December 16, 2025
WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Corinne de Nigris of Palm Beach Gardens is the 2025 Srixon South Florida PGA Junior Tour Don Law Service Award recipient for her time and dedication to the South Florida PGA Junior Tour and Foundation.
By Caitlin White December 16, 2025
West Palm Beach, FL - Ed Ficker embodies the true spirit of sportsmanship. His attitude, demeanor, and unwavering dedication to the game of golf reflect the exceptional character that has defined his career. As the Head Golf Professional at Tequesta Country Club for 41 years, Ficker set the gold standard for professionalism, retiring in 2006 with numerous honors. Among his achievements, he received several prestigious South Florida PGA awards, served as Vice President and Director of the PGA of America, and was inducted into the South Florida PGA Hall of Fame in 2001.