The 111th Arkansas State Amateur has come to a close! 

By: Maya Komanetsky, Marketing and Communications, P.J. Boatwright Intern

JOHNSON, Ark. (June 17, 2026) - The 111th Arkansas State Amateur Championship brought some of the state’s best amateur golfers to Blessings Golf Club in Johnson, Arkansas, from June 11-13, with Anna Kate Nichols capturing the women’s title and Carter Maneth winning the men’s championship.

Hosted at the home of the Arkansas Razorbacks golf program, Blessings Golf Club provided a championship-level test throughout the week. The event began with the Am-Am Invitational on Wednesday, June 10, before competitors turned their attention to three rounds of stroke play in one of Arkansas’ premier amateur golf events. The invitational raised a significant amount of money for junior golfers in Northwest Arkansas.

The Arkansas State Amateur Championship features a highly competitive field of top-performing amateur golfers from across the state. Entry into the championship is earned through a combination of exemptions, including past champions, top performers in ASGA points, junior and mid-am divisions, and qualifier spots from 18-hole qualifying tournaments.

Anna Kate Nichols, a recent University of Oklahoma commit, delivered a dominant performance on the women’s side, separating herself from the field with steady play across all three rounds. After opening with a 73, she followed with an even-par 72 in round two to take control of the championship, then closed with a 78 to finish at 223, seven-over par.

Her 11-stroke victory marked her second Arkansas State Amateur title and capped off a memorable week at Blessings, adding another standout chapter to her amateur career.

On the men’s side, Carter Maneth, a senior at Middle Tennessee State University, rose to the top after three rounds against a deep field of Arkansas amateurs. After opening with a 75, his second-round 70 proved to be the turning point of the championship. Maneth closed with another 75 to finish at 220, four-over par, securing the championship victory. 

With the win, Maneth earned a spot in the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship, which will be played at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania.

Maneth’s victory added significance as he now prepares to represent Arkansas on one of amateur golf’s biggest stages. The U.S. Amateur annually brings together many of the top amateur players in the U.S., and Merion Golf Club, one of the most historic venues in American golf, will provide a fitting stage for the championship.