Little Rock, Arkansas (19 August 2026) – The Team Arkansas Committee today announced the 4 boys and 4 girls who were named to the 2027 Team Arkansas roster as part of the USGA’s U.S. National Development Program (USNDP).
“We’re incredibly proud of these eight players and excited to see them represent the state through Team Arkansas,” said Carson Roberts (ASGA Executive Director). “This program is a tremendous opportunity for them to grow, compete, and continue developing both on and off the golf course.”
The roster was selected by the Team Arkansas committee based on players’ performances throughout the 2026 season. The Team Arkansas committee includes representatives from Fort Smith, Maumelle, Little Rock and Rogers.
Team Arkansas is one of 30 states in the USNDP’s State Junior Team program – designed to expand, strengthen and diversify the American junior golf pipeline. The USGA announced 14 new states to the program in October of 2025, with goals to expand to all 50 states by 2029.
2027 Team Arkansas – Boys Roster
Rich Davis, 2028 – Mena, AR
Knox Stephens, 2028 – Magnolia, AR
Laken Silkwood, 2027 – Conway, AR
Jack Denery, 2027 – Little Rock, AR
Team Arkansas will be headed by Coach Jack O’Keefe of Little Rock, alongside Team Captains Emily Laskin and Carson Roberts.
All athletes named to a state team will receive at least two days of in-person athlete development per year, access to webinars led by the USNDP’s coaching and athlete development team, consideration for USNDP-sponsored tournament exemptions, and a streamlined grant application process for families demonstrating financial need, among other benefits.
Announced in 2023, the USNDP is designed to ensure that American golf is the global leader in the game by focusing on six key pillars: talent identification, access to competition, national teams, athlete resources, player development and relations, and financial support.
The State Junior Team Program focuses on creating a developmentally appropriate, aspirational pathway for athletes within each state to compete at higher levels of the game. The U.S. National Development Program is supported by philanthropic giving and secured resources to fulfill the USGA’s commitment to providing pathways to elite levels of the game, regardless of financial situations.
To be eligible, a player must be a U.S. citizen, cannot be enrolled in college, must be 13 years old by Jan. 1 and not reach his/her 19th birthday by July 19 of the year in which they would compete on a State Junior Team.