The 2026 Butterfield Bermuda Junior Championships concluded in dramatic fashion at Port Royal Golf Course, with Alabama’s SJ Thomas and Arizona’s Aubrey Hilgers emerging from a world-class field to claim the coveted titles. On a final day where the famous coastal layout bared its teeth, both champions produced sub-par rounds to secure their victories.
Thomas, hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, delivered a masterclass in final-round composure. A three-under par 68 propelled him to the summit of the leaderboard, making him the only player in the field to finish the tournament under par at two-under. His scorecard was a whirlwind of activity, featuring six birdies to offset a bogey and a double bogey, as he navigated the tricky back nine with clinical precision.
Georgia’s Charles David Beeson mounted a late charge with a matching 68 to finish second at three-over par. However, the local headlines were dominated by Bermuda’s Oliver Betschart, who finished in a tie for third at five-over par alongside Fletcher Finch. Betschart’s final-round even-par 71—comprising three birdies and twelve pars—delighted the home gallery and reinforced his status as one of the region's rising stars.
The Girls’ Division provided an equally enthralling finish as Aubrey Hilgers from Surprise, Arizona, broke away from a three-way overnight deadlock to claim the title. Hilgers carded a final-round one-under par 70, finishing with a total of eight-over par. Her steady round included four birdies and eleven pars, allowing her to pull away from her nearest competitors.
A two-way tie for second place saw Florida’s Annie Jin and Ohio’s Nikitha Suresh finish at ten-over par, as both struggled to match Hilgers' consistency in the blustery conditions.
It was a day of gritty performances for the remaining local contingent:
John Bart secured a top-five finish, ending in a tie for fifth at six-over par after a final-round 73.
Arman Newton saved his best for last, firing a two-over par 73 to climb into a tie for 31st at 19-over par.
In the Girls' field, Darina Betschart finished 22nd at 39-over par after a testing final round of 86.
As the curtain falls on another successful championships at Port Royal, the focus shifts to the future of these young athletes, many of whom have now earned significant exemptions for major international junior events. For Thomas and Hilgers, the road now leads back to the United States with two of junior golf's most prestigious trophies in their luggage.
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