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(OAKMONT, PA) — Two unlikely golfers are making their dreams come true at this year’s U.S. Open. ABC News’ David Muir spoke with the golfers as they prepare for the national championship this month.

Among them is 17-year-old Mason Howell from Thomasville, Georgia, who will be one of the youngest competitors at the prestigious tournament. Howell, who first picked up a golf club at age three and began competing in tournaments by six, recently qualified to play alongside golf’s elite professionals.

“I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was nervous,” Howell told reporters after securing his spot, embracing his parents at the 18th green. “Hugging my mom and my dad walking off the 18th green… is just a feeling that I don’t know if I’ll feel again, but it was one of the greatest moments of my life.”

The high school junior sharing with ABC News his message to aspiring athletes: “Keep working hard, and dreams really do come true.”

But Howell isn’t the only inspiring story heading into next week’s championship. Dr. Matt Vogt, a 34-year-old dentist from McCordsville, Indiana, proved it’s never too late to chase your dreams by also qualifying for the tournament.

“I feel like I’m going to wake up from a dream,” Vogt said after his qualifying round. “This isn’t going to be real… but I’m so excited.”

Between treating patients and running on minimal sleep, Vogt hopes his journey will inspire others.

“My hope in qualifying for the U.S. Open at this stage of my life as an amateur is to really inspire others,” he told ABC News. “You can accomplish awesome things while still having a career… still having a family. It’s never too late to follow your dreams, and honestly, I hope to be an example of that.”

The U.S. Open golf tournament in 2025 will be held from June 12 to June 15 at Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, Pennsylvania.

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(NEW YORK) — Two grandchildren of notorious mob boss John Gotti have been charged with assault after allegedly beating up their brother-in-law in a family dispute in Queens.

John Gotti, 31, and Frankie Gotti, 27, were arrested in the assault on Monday, which came after an alleged Sunday break-in by their relative.

They were both charged with assault and harassment and were set to be arraigned Tuesday.

The family imbroglio began after 31-year-old Gino Gabrielli allegedly broke into a Gotti family home on 157th Avenue in Howard Beach to steal $3,300.

Gabrielli was arrested and charged with burglary, grand larceny criminal possession of stolen property

The Gotti pair then allegedly confronted their brother-in-law Monday afternoon in front of an 84th Street home after he was released from custody

Gabrielli was punched in the face. He refused medical attention, and the Gottis were arrested

John Gotti has had previous run-ins with the law, including a 2012 vehicle arson and an unrelated drug arrest. He is the grandson of the “Teflon Don” and the nephew of “Junior” Gotti

Gabrielli also has a record, having pleaded guilty to arson in December 2015 for torching a Mercedes-Benz during a dispute over a catering contract, and accidentally setting himself on fire in the process

John Gotti, the elder, the head of the notorious Gambino crime family, was known for his flash personality and expensive wardrobe and was convicted in 1992 of multiple counts of racketeering, extortion and ordering the murders of two people. He died in prison in 2002.

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(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Army met its annual recruiting target of 61,000 in the first week of June, four months ahead of the scheduled Sept. 30 deadline, after putting in place new initiatives to boost recruitment.

It marks a stunning turnaround for a service that failed to meet its recruiting goals in 2022 and 2023 and struggled in the years since to meet its annual targets.

“The U.S. Army has successfully met its fiscal year 2025 recruiting goals for active duty, signing contracts with more than 61,000 future Soldiers — a full four months before the end of the fiscal year,” the U.S. Army said in a statement. “This achievement represents a significant turning point for the Army and indicates a renewed sense of patriotism and purpose among America’s youth.”

Dan Driscoll, the secretary of the Army, said in a statement that he is “incredibly proud” of the service’s recruiters and drill sergeants.

“Their colossal efforts and dedication to duty helped the U.S. Army accomplish our FY25 annual recruiting goal a full four months ahead of schedule,” Driscoll added. “The U.S. Army is focused on lethality, taking care of our Soldiers, and transforming for a dangerous future — young people across the country want to be part of the U.S. Army, and these results clearly demonstrate that.”

The fiscal 2025 recruiting target was 10% higher than the 55,000 recruits targeted in fiscal 2024, and the Army statement added that “recent recruiting momentum has seen average contracts per day exceeding last year’s levels by as much as 56% during the same period.”

This is the first time since June 2014 that the Army has met its annual recruiting goal so early. The Army said recruiting efforts will continue and that additional recruits will be placed in the Delayed Entry Program in which recruits delay their start dates so the Army can begin the following recruiting year with recruits in hand.

The Army’s surge in recruitment numbers parallels the recruiting surge the other military services are experiencing, something that both President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth have attributed to a change in attitude brought about by the Trump administration’s end of policies promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.

However, the services’ recruiting turnarounds began last year before the November election following the implementation of new initiatives to help boost recruiting. The Army’s recruiting turnaround is being attributed to the establishment of an academic and physical fitness preparatory course for potential recruits, the professionalization of the recruiting force and an increase in recruiting bonuses.

In an interview with the Associated Press in January, then-Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said the Army was on pace to meet its target of 61,000 for the year as well as have more than 20,000 additional young people signed up for the DEP.

“Concerns about the Army being, quote, woke, have not been a significant issue in our recruiting crisis,” she said. “They weren’t at the beginning of the crisis. They weren’t in the middle of the crisis. They aren’t now. The data does not show that young Americans don’t want to join the Army because they think the army is woke — however they define that.”

Instead, Instead the Army’s recruiting success was a result of new initiatives, such as the Army’s Future Soldier Preparatory Course established in August 2022 that provided 1 in every 4 of Army recruits among the 55,000 who signed up for Army service in 2024. In the interview with the Associated Press, Wormuth said data showed the course might account for as much as a third of this year’s recruiting totals.

The program was established following the Army’s failure to meet its recruiting goals in 2022 and 2023 as a recognition that the Army was turning away potential recruits who had a strong desire to serve in the U.S. military but fell just short of meeting their academic and physical fitness requirements.

Potential recruits who did not meet those requirements were sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for up to 90 days for academic and physical fitness training to help them get ready for a new round of testing so they could become recruits.

The Army’s success with the program in 2024 was reflected not only in successfully meeting that year’s goal but also in placing 14,000 recruits in the DEP. The Navy has replicated the Army’s preparatory course and implemented its own training system for potential recruits who initially fall short.

The Army is also moving away from rotating soldiers into assignments as recruiters and professionalizing the career field so it includes those who are motivated to stay in the field.

Recruiting bonuses have been a key way of incentivizing service members to join the military for the last two decades, and those numbers rose significantly during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan particularly to meet in-demand work specialties.

The Army lists recruiting bonuses that could total as much as $50,000 for eligible recruits who would enlist for hard-to-fill jobs and for meeting certain criteria, according to the Army’s recruiting site.

Statistics for this recruiting year are not yet available, but Army statistics from 2024 show that “ 24,185 recruits received an average bonus of $16.9K.”

Those same statistics show that since 2020, the Army’s annual recruiting class has become increasingly diverse, with more minorities joining the active duty service since then and the number of women rising to pre-2020 levels.

For example, the number of white recruits in fiscal 2024 decreased to 40.5% from the 52.7% who joined in 2020 while the number of Black and Hispanic recruits increased.

That trend was reflected in 2024’s total recruiting effort, where 26.1% of recruits were Hispanic, the highest number ever, and the number of Black recruits increased by 6% over the previous year to 25.8% of the total.

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(NEW YORK) — A hotel security guard on Tuesday told the jury in Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex-trafficking and racketeering trial that the rap mogul paid him $100,000 in an attempt to secure his silence and bury a video that is now the central piece of evidence in the criminal case that threatens to send him to prison for life.

In the video captured in 2016 by security cameras at the Intercontinental Hotel in Los Angeles — and shown to the jury during the testimony of three different witnesses — Combs is seen kicking and dragging his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura. Ventura, a musician who testified as the government’s star witness, said she was trying to escape Combs and one of his drug-fueled orgies, called “freak-offs.”

“When I chose to leave, I grabbed what I could and I got out,” Ventura testified during the second week of the trial. “Sean followed me into the hallway before the elevators and grabbed me up, threw me on the ground, kicked me, [and] tried to drag me back to the room.”

Combs has pleaded not guilty to the charges in the case. His lawyers have said that Combs takes “full responsibility” for the domestic violence captured in the video but argue that the rap mogul has not committed the sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and prostitution alleged by federal prosecutors.

Hotel security guard Eddy Garcia testified Tuesday that Combs frantically worked to make sure the CCTV video never saw the light of day, paying $100,000 to obtain what Combs thought was the only copy of the recording.

“He was concerned this video would get out and it would ruin his career,” Garcia testified. According to Garcia, Combs promised “he would take care of me” and ended up paying $100,000 in cash to the man he later referred to as “Eddy my angel.”

When the video was obtained by CNN last year, the condemnation was swift and led to Combs offering a public apology, saying he was “truly sorry” for his conduct and that he “sought professional help” after the incident.

Prosecutors have argued that Combs’ $100,000 payment to Garcia was a bribe and one of the underlying crimes at the heart of their allegation that the hip-hop superstar is guilty of racketeering conspiracy. They allege that Combs realized the episode could reveal years of criminal conduct and might pull back the curtain on how the mogul used his business empire to coerce women into sex, threaten them into silence, and protect his public reputation.

The trial is set to resume Wednesday when three more witnesses are expected to take the stand.

Frank Piazza, a video expert, is expected to be the first witness followed by Bryana Bongolan, who has alleged Combs threatened to kill her by dangling her over a balcony in the presence of Ventura. Bongolan made similar allegations in a civil case, which Combs has denied.

A woman being called “Jane” is expected to take the stand on Wednesday afternoon and to testify for as long as five days, according to prosecutors. Jane is expected to be the third and final alleged victim to testify against Combs.

Security guard testifies about Combs’ alleged effort to bury assault video

Garcia testified Tuesday that he heard about the assault shortly after he clocked in for his shift at the InterContinental Hotel on March 5, 2016. Garcia told the jury he understood law enforcement was not contacted at the time because Ventura did not request medical or police attention.

About an hour into his shift, Garcia explained to jurors that he got an unexpected call on his work phone from Combs’ assistant Kristina Khorram, who requested a copy of the security video. Despite telling her she would need to contact hotel management or get a subpoena to view the footage, Garcia testified Khorram arrived in the hotel lobby an hour later to watch the recording.

“She was asking about the video and if there was any way she could see it,” he said. “She wanted to know what they were dealing with.”

Garcia said he apologized and said he could not show it to her, though he testified he warned her, “Off the record: it’s bad.”

That evening, Garcia testified he once again received a call on his personal cell from Khorram. He told the jury within seconds, a noticeably “nervous” Combs came on the other end of the line, trying to explain his actions.

“He asked me if I knew who he was. I said yes,” Garcia said. “Mr. Combs sounded very nervous. Just was talking really fast. Was just saying that he had a little too much to drink and that I knew how things was with women when one thing led to another.”

Garcia testified, “He stated that I sounded like a good guy, that I sounded like I wanted to help, that something like this could ruin him. He was concerned this video would get out and it would ruin his career.”

He said he also remembered Combs telling him, “he would take care of me.” After Garcia informed Combs that he would accept $100,000 in exchange for the video, Garcia testified that Combs “sounded excited” and “referred to me as ‘Eddy my angel.'”

“He wanted the video as soon as possible,” Garcia told the court. He explained he was then given an address about a 20-minute drive from the InterContinental Hotel, where he was to make the trade.

Security guard recounts getting $100,000 in cash from Combs

Once he got to the designated location with a thumb drive containing what he said was the only copy of the video, Garcia told the court that someone who introduced himself as Combs’ bodyguard brought him up to an apartment. He testified he recalled seeing Combs “smiling, excited” and looking happy.

“Eddy my angel, he was smiling. He said ‘come in,’ making me feel comfortable,” Garcia testified Combs told him, adding that Combs instructed Khorram to make him a cup of tea.

After Garcia assured Combs the drive had the only copy of the video, the rap mogul allegedly contacted Ventura on FaceTime so she could communicate that she, too, wanted the video to go away.

She was wearing a hoodie, and the lighting wasn’t that great,” Garcia said of Ventura. “Before he passed the phone over to me he said, ‘Let him know that you want this to go away too.'”

“And how did Cassie respond?” prosecutor Mitzi Steiner asked.

“When I got passed the phone, I said, ‘Hi’, she said ‘Hi’ and she said she had a movie coming out and it wasn’t a good time for this to come out and she wanted it to go away,” Garcia responded.

Garcia told jurors that Combs demanded he sign a nondisclosure agreement, agree to a certification that there was only one copy of the video, and hand over his ID as well as the identifications of his supervisor and coworker. Garcia then testified Combs left the room and returned with a brown bag and a money counter, which Combs fed “stacks of $10,000 at a time.”

“In total, at the end it was $100,000,” he testified.

Garcia testified Combs and a bodyguard then accompanied him out of the suite and walked him to the valet where his car was parked.

“He asked me how I would spend the money, and I said I didn’t know,” Garcia testified. “He said not to make any big purchases.”

A few weeks later, Garcia testified he received a message from Combs. “Happy Easter, Eddy my angel. God is good,” Garcia remembered the message, saying Combs “proceeded to ask if anyone had asked about the video.” He said he had heard nothing.

Jury sees alleged paper trail of 2011 extortion payment

Following Garcia’s testimony about accepting a $100,000 payment from Combs, prosecutors called Combs’ longtime employee Derek Ferguson to drill down into the financial structure of Combs’ business empire. Prosecutors have argued that Combs’ companies doubled as a criminal enterprise that allowed the rap mogul to commit crimes for years with few repercussions.

Ferguson, who worked as the chief financial officer for Bad Boy Entertainment for 12 years, walked the jury through Combs’ bank accounts, financial arrangements, how the businesses managed cash and how employees were reimbursed for expenses charged to their corporate cards. Several of Combs’ personal assistants testified about being tasked with purchasing supplies for freak-offs, including gallons of baby oil, sexual lubricant, drugs and alcohol.

Jurors also saw documents showing a series of wire transfers in 2011 to and from Cassie Ventura’s mother. While Ferguson said he did not know the reason for the $20,000 payment, jurors last month heard directly from Regina Ventura, who testified that she and her husband took out a home equity loan to fund the payment. She testified Combs demanded to “recoup” money he had spent on Cassie Ventura “because he was angry that she had a relationship with Scott Mescudi.” Mescudi is also a well-known rapper, performing under the name Kid Cudi.

The jury saw a Dec. 14 transfer from an account set up to manage Combs’ home in Alpine, New Jersey, to Cassie Ventura for $20,000. On Dec. 23, the same account took in $20,000 from Ventura’s father. Four days later, on Dec. 27, the account transferred $20,000 for “return of funds.”

Regina Ventura testified that she decided to send the money because she feared for her daughter’s safety after Combs threatened to release explicit videos of her. Combs ultimately returned the money, she said.

During his cross examination, Combs’ attorney Marc Agnifilo tried to use Ferguson’s 19 years of experience working with Combs to cast doubt on the way the prosecutors have described Combs’ business empire. .

“Did you see anyone help Sean Combs commit crimes?” Agnifilo asked.

“No,” Ferguson answered.

“Did you see anyone help Sean Combs commit acts of violence?” Agnifilo asked.

“No,” Ferguson replied

“Did you see anyone make the company stronger through threats of violence?”

“No.”

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(MIAMI) — Two men face charges in connection with a deadly boat collision that killed a 15-year-old girl who was wakeboarding in Florida last year, authorities announced.

Ella Adler, 15, had fallen in the water while being towed in Biscayne Bay in the Miami area on May 11, 2024, when another boat struck her and didn’t stop, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said.

The alleged operators behind the vessels involved in the incident have since been charged following a “thorough investigation,” the FWC said Tuesday.

Carlos Guillermo Alonso, 79, the alleged operator of the boat that struck the teen, has been charged with two misdemeanors for careless operation of a vessel, according to the FWC.

Edmund Richard Hartley, 32, the alleged operator of the vessel towing Ella, has been charged with four misdemeanors for careless operation of a vessel, the commission said.

They are both accused of violating U.S. Coast Guard navigational rules on responsibility and look-out, while Hartley is additionally charged with violating rules regarding risk of collision and action to avoid collision, the FWC said.

“The FWC extends its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of Ella Adler,” the FWC said in a statement. “Our thoughts remain with them as they continue to cope with this unimaginable loss.”

The FWC said it brought the charges against the men in late April. Both suspects have since pleaded not guilty and are set to appear in court in Miami-Dade County on June 30 for a trial hearing, online court records show.

An attorney for Alonso, who goes by Bill, said they were “surprised” to learn about the charging decision.

“What happened last year was an absolute tragedy. But it was not Bill’s fault,” his attorney, Lauren Krasnoff, said in a statement Tuesday. “Bill is an experienced and cautious boater and that is how he acted that day. FWC explicitly told us that they did not find Bill’s actions caused the accident. Because of that, we were very surprised to learn about the citations.”

“We understand that FWC is under a lot of pressure from recent events. But now, after telling us that Bill was not to blame, we will need to get to the bottom of this charging decision a year later,” she added.

ABC News has reached out to Hartley’s attorney for comment but has not yet received a response.

In the wake of the incident, investigators seized the boat believed to have struck Ella following a dayslong search, the FWC said. At the time, Alonso said he had “no knowledge” of the accident and is “devastated” to learn he may have been involved, according to his attorney.

“This is the worst possible tragedy and before saying anything else, we want to express our deepest sympathies to Ella Adler’s family and friends,” Krasnoff said at the time.

Alonso was boating by himself at the time of the incident and had “no knowledge whatsoever of having been involved in this accident,” she said.

“If he hit Ella that day, he certainly did not know it,” Krasnoff said, adding that he “absolutely would have stopped” if he realized he had.

He is “absolutely devastated by the loss of this intelligent, accomplished and beautiful young woman,” she said.

Ella was a student at Ransom Everglades School, a college-prep day school in the Miami area, and had appeared in more than 100 performances with the Miami City Ballet.

“The world lost a star this weekend. Ella was beautiful and shined brightly,” her parents, Amanda and Matt Adler, said in a statement to ABC News last year. “In her 15 years she gave us more light than we could have ever dreamed.”

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