Riverside Poly Golfer Grady Emerson Wins Homer Thomas Invitational

Emerson's steady play earns him first high school tournament title, while Redlands takes home the team championship.

Apr. 7, 2026 at 5:22am

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the various elements of a high school golf tournament - fairways, sand traps, golfers swinging their clubs - rendered in an abstract, Cubist style that emphasizes the dynamic energy and strategic depth of the sport.A high school golf tournament captured through the lens of Cubist abstraction, highlighting the dynamic motion and strategic complexity of the sport.Riverside Today

Riverside Poly sophomore Grady Emerson captured the individual title at the 46th annual Homer Thomas Invitational boys golf tournament, posting a 2-under-par round of 70 at the Victoria Club in Riverside. Emerson avoided big numbers and made key putts down the stretch to hold off Centennial's Matthew Chen and Linfield Christian's Alfredo Guerra, who tied for second place at 72. On the team side, Redlands won the title with a 389 (+29) score, led by top-15 finishes from Jacob Abel, CJ Lorenzo, and freshman Johnny Suh.

Why it matters

The Homer Thomas Invitational is one of the premier high school golf tournaments in the Inland Empire region, drawing top talent from across Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Emerson's victory represents a breakthrough performance for the Riverside Poly program, while Redlands' team title continues the school's strong run of success in boys golf.

The details

Emerson made 10 straight pars before birdies at holes 16 and 17 sealed the individual championship. He was able to overcome a penalty area shot on the 4th hole by sinking a 10-foot putt to save par and maintain his lead. Guerra briefly took the lead with a birdie-eagle stretch on holes 13 and 14, but two late bogeys dropped him back. Chen rallied with birdies on the closing par 5s to tie for second. On the team side, Redlands edged out Glendora by a single shot, with Linfield Christian and Temecula Valley tying for third.

  • The 46th annual Homer Thomas Invitational took place on Monday, April 6, 2026.
  • Emerson made a pair of birdies at holes 16 and 17 to secure the individual title.

The players

Grady Emerson

A sophomore golfer at Riverside Poly High School who won his first career high school tournament with a 2-under-par round of 70.

Matthew Chen

A golfer from Centennial High School who tied for second place with a round of 72.

Alfredo Guerra

A golfer from Linfield Christian High School who also tied for second place with a round of 72.

Redlands High School

The team champion of the Homer Thomas Invitational, posting a score of 389 (+29) led by top-15 finishes from Jacob Abel, CJ Lorenzo, and freshman Johnny Suh.

Eric Chavez

The head coach of the Riverside Poly High School golf team.

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What they’re saying

“I really made things a lot harder than they needed to be late but made some key putts down the stretch to bring home this win. I've spent a lot of time working with a mental coach on trying to relieve pressure on shots and focus forward. That's what allowed me to close it out.”

— Grady Emerson, Riverside Poly Golfer

“I was going to be happy with anything under 400 here, and they delivered against a quality field. What's impressed me is how much this group has grown since the year started. Their ability to stay composed has been impressive to watch, and that's with three freshmen in my starting six.”

— Mark Hopson, Redlands High School Golf Coach

What’s next

The CIF-Southern Section Individual Regional Championships are scheduled for May 12, 2026, where Emerson and other top golfers from the Homer Thomas Invitational will look to qualify for the CIF State Championship tournament.

The takeaway

Grady Emerson's breakthrough victory at the Homer Thomas Invitational showcases the rising talent in the Riverside Poly golf program, while Redlands' team title reinforces the school's reputation as a consistent power in Inland Empire high school golf.