Former JGAA standout and Brophy Prep golfer Charlie Palmer recently completed his first year of college golf at Princeton University. In his inaugural year at Princeton, Charlie Palmer made a statement, earning the postseason title of Ivy League Rookie of the Year. Notably, Palmer secured two impressive top-12 finishes during the season.
Whirlwind Golf Club’s Cattail Course hosted the Boys Championship division, with the first qualifier Landon Ashcraft of Scottsdale earning top medalist honors after two red-hot rounds of 67-66. The Girls Championship division squared off at Ahwatukee Country Club and Arizona Golf Resort with two qualifiers and two alternates heading to San Diego. Charlene Lamb of Scottsdale fired 72-74 to squeak past the rest of the leaderboard in first place at 2-over par.
The 50th edition of the Thunderbird Collegiate teed off at Papago Golf Club last weekend, with Arizona State University junior Preston Summerhays earning his second-straight individual title, while the Sun Devils successfully defended home turf to win the team title.
Future Marquette golfer Vincent Cervantes put together two strong performances over the weekend as he wound up the only player in the Boys Championship division to finish in red figures. 2023 Player of the Year Vakasiuola won the Girls Championship division by three strokes at 2-over par (75-71-146). This season, she has notched three top-5s and five top-10s.
The 30th annual Tucson Conquistadores Spring Classic took full swing April 6-7 under beautiful sunshine at Silverbell and El Rio Golf Courses, where Gilbert resident Austin Bullard recorded a final round to remember to win the Boys Championship division. Angela Zhikun Chen earns first victory of season in Girls Championship division.
2023 JGAA Boys 13-14 Player of the Year Zachary Schaefer of Tucson and Parker Tang of Buckeye competed at Augusta National this past Sunday for the 10th annual Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals. The Catalina Foothills High School freshman, Schaefer, made the most of his final Drive, Chip and Putt appearance by earning runner up honors in the Boys 14-15 division and won the putting category. His longest drive was 262 yards and hit his final chip within 2’4’’ for a total score of 25, one back of the victor Connor Holden of Oregon. Parker Tang of Buckeye clinched first place in the Boys 7-9 division and even hit a hole-in-one in the putting category.
We’re thrilled to announce that our esteemed JGAA alumna is gearing up for her third consecutive appearance at the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Hailing from our junior ranks, she’s made a noteworthy mark on the golfing world since her early days. Menne is currently one of the top ranked collegiate golfers in NCAA Women’s Golf and looks to improve upon her 29th place finish in 2022.
The LPGA Tour returns to the desert for the inaugural Ford Championship presented by KCC. The field will showcase the brightest stars in ladies’ professional golf. In fact, a couple players are representing the JGAA as former Arizona junior golfers Sarah Schmelzel and Lindsey Weaver-Wright will tee it up at Seville Country Club in Gilbert.