Feng and Kim Capture Inaugural Cronheim Cup
WATCHUNG, N.J. – Rayhao Feng and Jessica Kim etched their names into New Jersey Golf history on Tuesday, capturing the inaugural Cronheim Cup Boys' and Girls' championships at Watchung Valley Golf Club. Feng claimed the boys' title at 8-under-par 205, while Kim cruised to the girls' championship at 1-over-par 217 to become the first champions of New Jersey Golf's newest junior invitational.
Thirteen-year-old Jessica Kim entered Tuesday's final round with a commanding five-shot advantage and never looked back, becoming the inaugural Girls' Champion of the Cronheim Cup. The NJ Golf E-Club member relied on steady, mistake-free golf throughout the championship, posting an even-par 71 in the final round to finish at 1-over-par 217, 12 strokes clear of the field.
Kim wasted little time settling into her round, playing a bogey-free front nine highlighted by a birdie on the par-5 fifth to move to 1-under for the day. Despite the pressure of holding the lead, Kim remained patient over Watchung Valley Golf Club's demanding closing stretch.
"Honestly, I had a lot of putts that weren’t dropping but I just tried to stay consistent because the back-nine is really difficult and I just wanted to play my game and not trying to think too much."
Her consistency proved to be the difference throughout the 54-hole championship. Kim, who also competed in the 2026 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship earlier this summer, credited her all-around game for helping her separate from the field.
“I think, overall, over the three days, every aspect of my game was pretty consistent. I didn’t make major mistakes that brought me to any big numbers, so I think that was a big part.”
The victory continues a breakthrough season for Kim, who has steadily elevated her game while gaining experience against some of the nation's top junior players.
“I’m just very proud overall that my work is paying off. I think last year that my overall results weren't the best compared to this year but I’m very happy that I was able to have such great achievements and be able to participate is such great and big events.”
As the first player to hoist the Cronheim Cup trophy, Kim knows her name will forever be part of the championship's history.
“I feel very honored. I think this tournament is absolutely amazing and I’m just really grateful that I’m the first champion,” said Kim. “I’m just very happy and really honored to have this title and be able to carry it around for my golf journey in the future and that I’m the first champion of the inaugural Cronheim Cup.”
The runner-up position was shared by NJ Golf E-Club members Olivia Gaglione and Christine Park.
After opening the championship with a blistering bogey-free 10-under par 61, Rayhao Feng carried a five-shot lead into the final round and never relinquished control. The recent Carter Cup champion weathered an early challenge with two bogeys over his opening holes before responding with a timely birdie on the par-5 third. Feng settled back into his rhythm down the stretch, adding two birdies over his final four holes to close with an even-par 71 and finish the championship at 8-under par 205, three strokes clear of the field to become the inaugural Cronheim Cup Boys' champion.
“I’m just very happy, especially since this course is where my school, The Pingry School actually plays our golf and it’s also the first year of the championship. It feels really great to be the first person to win.”
Feng's championship was built on one of the best rounds of the week, as his first-round 61 gave him the cushion he needed entering the final 18 holes.
“After the first nine holes I realized that I was playing really hot. After that I was just trying to keep my round bogey-free. I ended up making an eagle and after that was looking to play a little safer. I really putted well that round which is what allowed me to shoot 10-under.”
With the lead in hand on Tuesday, Feng shifted his mindset from attacking to avoiding costly mistakes.
“Today I was just trying to not make any big mistakes. Bogeys are fine but doubles are really bad and can make you lose your lead really quickly so I was just trying to avoid any big mistakes or blow ups.”
The victory continued an impressive summer for Feng, who recently captured the Carter Cup at Baltusrol Golf Club. He credited his improved short game as one of the biggest reasons behind his recent success.
“I think this summer my short game has definitely been better. At the beginning of the year I really tried to improve that because last year I had some trouble with chipping and putting so I think that really helped me just be able to score better and make a lot of birdies.”
As the first champion in tournament history, Feng earned a place that can never be duplicated.
“I didn’t think there was going to be a new tournament in my time just because all of the other tournaments have been going on for so long so it feels great being the first champion.”
Echo Lake Country Club's Henry Blake finished runner-up at 5-under par after a second-round surge of 4-under par 67 vaulted him into contention. Blake, along with third-place finisher Jake Aronson (-2), were the only two players in the field to record an even-par or better score in all three rounds of the championship.
The inaugural Cronheim Cup marked the debut of New Jersey Golf's newest championship, bringing together some of the region's top junior boys and girls for a 54-hole World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) event at Watchung Valley Golf Club. Created to provide elite junior golfers with another high-level competitive opportunity, the championship featured a 36-hole cut before crowning its first champions.
The championship is named in honor of Robert D. Cronheim, who served as New Jersey Golf president from 1992–93 and is part of the family ownership of Watchung Valley Golf Club. Cronheim founded the NJ Golf Youth Foundation in 1993, received the New Jersey Golf Distinguished Service Award in 2013, and is the grandfather of current New Jersey Golf President David Cronheim.
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