The first tournament in 1948 was won by Dean Lind from a field of 495 entries. In 1999, the tournament set a record with 4,508 entries. Only two players have won the championship multiple times: Tiger Woods won the tournament for three consecutive years beginning in 1991; Jordan Spieth won in 2009 and 2011.[1] In 2010, Jim Liu, at 14 years, 11 months, became the youngest champion ever, breaking Woods' mark of 15 years and 220 days.[2]
The number of winners who have gone on to become leading professionals is quite modest. This reflects not only the young age of the competitors, but the more random results of match play tournaments compared to stroke play events. Apart from Woods, well known winners include Johnny Miller (1964), David Duval (1989), Hunter Mahan (1999) and Jordan Spieth (2009 and 2011). Jack Nicklaus's best result was a semifinal loss.
The equivalent competition for girls is the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship.
| Year | Winner | Country | Venue | Score | Runner-up | | 2018 | Michael Thorbjornsen | {{USA}} | Baltusrol Golf Club, Upper Course (NJ) | 1 up | USA}} Akshay Bhatia |
| 2017 | Noah Goodwin | {{USA}} | Flint Hills National Golf Club (KS) | 1 up | USA}} Matthew Wolff |
| 2016 | Min Woo Lee | {{AUS}} | Honors Course (TN) | 2 & 1 | USA}} Noah Goodwin |
| 2015 | Philip Barbaree | {{USA}} | Colleton River Plantation Club, Dye Course (SC) | 37 holes | USA}} Andrew Orischak |
| 2014 | Will Zalatoris | {{USA}} | The Club at Carlton Woods, Nicklaus Course (TX) | 5 & 3 | USA}} Davis Riley |
| 2013 | Scottie Scheffler | {{USA}} | Martis Camp (CA) | 3 & 2 | USA}} Davis Riley |
| 2012 | Andy Hyeon Bo Shim | {{USA}} | The Golf Club of New England (NH) | 4 & 3 | USA}} Jim Liu |
| 2011 | Jordan Spieth (2) | {{USA}} | Gold Mountain Golf Club, Olympic Course (WA) | 6 & 5 | USA}} Chelso Barrett |
| 2010 | Jim Liu | {{USA}} | Egypt Valley Country Club (MI) | 4 & 2 | USA}} Justin Thomas |
| 2009 | Jordan Spieth | {{USA}} | Trump National Golf Club, Old and New Courses (NJ) | 4 & 3 | USA}} Jay Hwang |
| 2008 | Cameron Peck | {{USA}} | Shoal Creek Golf and Country Club (AL) | 10 & 8 | USA}} Evan Beck |
| 2007 | Cory Whitsett | {{USA}} | Boone Valley Golf Club (MO) | 8 & 7 | USA}} Anthony Paollucci |
| 2006 | Philip Francis | {{USA}} | Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club (CA) | 3 & 2 | CAN}} Richard T. Lee |
| 2005 | Kevin Tway | {{USA}} | Longmeadow Country Club (MA) | 3 & 2 | USA}} Brad Johnson |
| 2004 | Sihwan Kim | {{KOR}}[3] | The Olympic Club (CA) | 1 up | USA}} David Chung |
| 2003 | Brian Harman | {{USA}} | Columbia Country Club (MD) | 5 & 4 | USA}} Jordan Cox |
| 2002 | Charlie Beljan | {{USA}} | Atlanta Athletic Club, Highlands Course (GA) | 20 holes | AUS}} Zac Reynolds |
| 2001 | Henry Liaw | {{USA}} | Oak Hills Country Club (TX) | 2 & 1 | CAN}} Richard Scott |
| 2000 | Matthew Rosenfeld | {{USA}} | Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club, Ghost Creek Course (OR) | 3 & 2 | USA}} Ryan Moore |
| 1999 | Hunter Mahan | {{USA}} | Country Club of York (PA) | 4 & 2 | COL}} Camilo Villegas |
| 1998 | James Oh | {{USA}} | Conway Farms Golf Club (IL) | 1 up | AUS}} Aaron Baddeley |
| 1997 | Jason Allred | {{USA}} | Aronimink Golf Club (PA) | 1 up | ZAF}} Trevor Immelman |
| 1996 | Shane McMenamy | {{USA}} | Forest Highlands Golf Club (AZ) | 19 holes | USA}} Charles Howell III |
| 1995 | D. Scott Hailes | {{USA}} | Fargo Country Club (ND) | 1 up | USA}} James Driscoll |
| 1994 | Terry Noe | {{KOR}} | Echo Lake Country Club (NJ) | 2 up | USA}} Andy Barnes |
| 1993 | Tiger Woods (3) | {{USA}} | Waverley Country Club (OR) | 19 holes | USA}} Ryan Armour |
| 1992 | Tiger Woods (2) | {{USA}} | Wollaston Golf Club (MA) | 1 up | USA}} Mark Wilson |
| 1991 | Tiger Woods | {{USA}} | Bay Hill Club and Lodge (FL) | 19 holes | USA}} Brad Zwetschke |
| 1990 | Mathew Todd | {{USA}} | Lake Merced Golf Club (CA) | 1 up | USA}} Dennis Hillman |
| 1989 | David Duval | {{USA}} | Singing Hills Golf and Country Club (CA) | 1 up | USA}} Austin Maki |
| 1988 | Jason Widener | {{USA}} | Yale Golf Course (CT) | 1 up | USA}} Brandon Knight |
| 1987 | Brett Quigley | {{USA}} | Singletree Golf Club (CO) | 1 up | USA}} Bill Heim |
| 1986 | Brian Montgomery | {{USA}} | Muirfield Village (OH) | 2 & 1 | USA}} Nicky Goetze |
| 1985 | Charlie Rymer | {{USA}} | Brookfield Country Club (NY) | 19 holes | USA}} Gregory Lesher |
| 1984 | Doug Martin | {{USA}} | Wayzata Country Club (MN) | 4 & 2 | Brad Agee |
| 1983 | Tim Straub | {{USA}} | Saucon Valley Country Club, Old Course (PA) | 1 up | John Mahon |
| 1982 | Rich Marik | {{USA}} | Crooked Stick Golf Club (IN) | 4 & 3 | USA}} Tim Straub |
| 1981 | Scott Erickson | {{USA}} | Sunnyside Country Club (CA) | 4 & 3 | Matt McCarley |
| 1980 | Eric Johnson | {{USA}} | Pine Lake Country Club (MI) | 4 & 3 | NZL}} Bruce Soulsby |
| 1979 | Jack Larkin | {{USA}} | Moss Creek Golf Club (SC) | 1 up | USA}} Billy Tuten |
| 1978 | Donald Hurter | {{USA}} | Wilmington Country Club, South Course (DE) | 21 holes | Keith Banes |
| 1977 | Willie Wood | {{USA}} | Ohio State University Golf Club, Scarlet Course (OH) | 4 & 3 | David Games |
| 1976 | Madden Hatcher III | {{USA}} | Hiwan Golf Club (CO) | 3 & 2 | USA}} Doug Clarke |
| 1975 | Brett Mullin | {{USA}} | Richland Country Club (TN) | 2 & 1 | Scott Templeton |
| 1974 | David Nevatt | {{USA}} | Brooklawn Country Club (CT) | 4 & 3 | Mark Tinder |
| 1973 | Jack Renner | {{USA}} | Singing Hills Country Club (CA) | 20 holes | USA}} Mike Brannan |
| 1972 | Bob Byman | {{USA}} | Brookhaven Country Club (TX) | 2 & 1 | USA}} Scott Simpson |
| 1971 | Mike Brannan | {{USA}} | Manor Country Club (MD) | 4 & 3 | Robert Steele |
| 1970 | Gary Koch | {{USA}} | Athens Country Club (GA) | 8 & 6 | Mike Nelms |
| 1969 | Aly Trompas | {{USA}} | Spokane Country Club (WA) | 3 & 1 | USA}} Eddie Pearce |
| 1968 | Eddie Pearce | {{USA}} | The Country Club (MA) | 6 & 5 | W.B. Harman Jr. |
| 1967 | John T. Crooks | {{USA}} | Twin Hills Golf & Country Club (OK) | 2 & 1 | USA}} Andy North |
| 1966 | Gary Sanders | {{USA}} | California Country Club (CA) | 2 up | Ray Leach |
| 1965 | James Masserio | {{USA}} | Wilmington Country Club, South Course (DE) | 3 & 2 | Lloyd Liebler |
| 1964 | Johnny Miller | {{USA}} | Eugene Country Club (OR) | 2 & 1 | Enrique Sterling Jr. |
| 1963 | Gregg McHatton | {{USA}} | Florence Country Club (SC) | 4 & 3 | Richard Bland |
| 1962 | Jim Wiechers | {{USA}} | Lochmoor Club (MI) | 4 & 3 | James Sullivan |
| 1961 | Charles S. McDowell | {{USA}} | Cornell University Golf Club (NY) | 2 up | USA}} Jay Sigel |
| 1960 | William L. Tindall | {{USA}} | Milburn Golf & Country Club (KS) | 2 & 1 | Robert L. Hammer |
| 1959 | Larry J. Lee | {{USA}} | Stanford University Golf Course (CA) | 2 up | Michael V. McMahon |
| 1958 | Gordon Baker | {{USA}} | University of Minnesota Golf Club (MN) | 2 & 1 | R. Douglas Lindsay |
| 1957 | Larry Beck | {{USA}} | Manor Country Club (MD) | 6 & 5 | David C. Leon |
| 1956 | Harlan Stevenson | {{USA}} | Taconic Golf Club (MA) | 3 & 1 | USA}} Jack Rule Jr. |
| 1955 | Billy J. "Cotton" Dunn | {{USA}} | Purdue University Golf Club, South Course (IN) | 3 & 2 | William J. Seanor |
| 1954 | Foster Bradley Jr. | {{USA}} | Los Angeles Country Club, North Course (CA) | 3 & 1 | USA}} Al Geiberger |
| 1953 | Rex Baxter | {{USA}} | Southern Hills Country Club (OK) | 2 & 1 | George Warren III |
| 1952 | Donald M. Bisplinghoff | {{USA}} | Yale Golf Course (CT) | 2 up | Eddie M. Meyerson |
| 1951 | Tommy Jacobs | {{USA}} | University of Illinois Golf Club (IL) | 4 & 2 | Floyd Addington |
| 1950 | Mason Rudolph | {{USA}} | Denver Country Club (CO) | 2 & 1 | Charles Beville |
| 1949 | Gay Brewer | {{USA}} | Congressional Country Club (MD) | 6 & 4 | USA}} Mason Rudolph |
| 1948 | Dean Lind | {{USA}} | University of Michigan Golf Club (MI) | 4 & 2 | USA}} Ken Venturi |
1. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.usga.org/ChampEventBlog.aspx?id=21474840900&blogid=2147484094 |title=Live Championship Match Blog |date=23 July 2011 |work=Junior Amateur Blog |publisher=USGA |accessdate=23 July 2011}}
2. ^{{cite web |url=http://www.golfweek.com/news/2010/jul/24/liu-14-becomes-youngest-us-junior-champ/ |title=Liu, 14, becomes youngest U.S. Junior champ |first=Ryan |last=Lavner |date=24 July 2010 |work=Golfweek.com |publisher=Turnstile Publishing Company |accessdate=23 July 2011}}
3. ^Shin was born in South Korea and moved to California with his family in October 2000. His citizenship at the time of winning the Championship is unknown. The USGA lists him as "of Fullerton, California".