Dayton's Matthew Kreusch is the winner of the 2026 Ohio Junior Championship at Shaker Run Golf Club in Lebanon.

Kreusch, a rising senior and University of Dayton commit, was the only player in the field to finish the championship under-par.

Heading into the final round, Kreusch led Brody Hayes and Owen Heilmann by a single stroke.

After a shaky start by Kreusch, Heilmann found himself in the lead after a few holes of play. Heilmann was looking to make history on Wednesday by becoming the first player since 1997 to win the Overall division and 15 & Under division of the Ohio Junior Championship in separate years.

Kreusch would then take control of the championship with three consecutive birdies on 4, 5, and 6.

"Those birdies were very clutch just to get the confidence and momentum back in my hands," Kreusch told us after round.

With his steady play and the others' faltering to Shaker Run's difficulty later in the round, Kreusch opened up a three-stroke lead heading into the back-nine.

Kreusch turned to his short game to survive and hang on to his big lead down the stretch, getting up-and-down for par from difficult situations on 14, 15, and 16.

"I was just taking my time and not letting the bad shots get to me. I had to think about the next shot and keeping myself in the game," Kreusch noted of his mindset late in the championship.

After a few struggles on 17 and 18, Kreusch (-2) won the Ohio Junior Championship by three shots over a pair of players at +1, Cincinnati's Patrick Paquette and 18-hole leader Yale Feniger.

With the win, Matthew Kreusch is now exempt into the 2026 U.S. Junior Championship at Saucon Valley Country Club outside of Philadelphia, as well as the next five editions of the Ohio Amateur Championship.

"It means everything, (to win the Ohio Junior) and I also can't wait to go to Philly (for the U.S. Junior), it's going to be so sick," he said excitedly.

Columbus' Max Humphreys took home the win in the 15 & Under division after starting the day seven strokes back of Nick Pollak.

Humphreys, who will be a freshman at Upper Arlington this fall, made 15 pars in his final round to catch Pollak.

"I didn't think I had a chance today, but I kept my head down and posted the best score I could. It feels amazing, and it's an honor to win this tournament," Humphreys said.

The next Ohio Golf Association championship, the Ohio Senior Amateur Championship, takes place June 22-24 at Miami View Golf Club in Cleves.

For the full Ohio Golf Association schedule, click HERE.