Mason Andersen edged out fellow Gilbert resident, Branden Meyer, in a playoff to place first in the Boys Championship Division with a three-under-par 141 (71-70) final score. Amazingly, Andersen posted seven birdies and no bogies on the last 10 holes cumulatively over both rounds.
In the Girls Championship Division, Lauren Metcalf made the best of her home-town advantage by coming out on top in a playoff against Gilbert resident, Megan Ohland. She ended regulation play at five-over-par 149. This was only her third start in the JGAA’s Girls Championship Division. Metcalf adds this win to another at the 2015 New Year’s Shootout, and a second-place finish in the Phoenix Metro, both in the Girls 13-14 Division. And in 2014, she won three times and placed second four times in only seven events played that year.
(L to R) 1st: Lauren Metcalf, 2nd: Megan Ohland, 3rd: Ashley Ohland. Lauren won after one playoff hole.
(L to R) 1st: Mason Andersen, 2nd: Branden Meyer, 3rd: Brock Goyen. Mason won in a playoff, he birdied the first playoff hole to win it.
ALL PHOTOS of the YUMA CITY JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
The event is played annually at Yuma’s Desert Hills Golf Course. And after the recent passing of the long-time general manager, Bruce Brown, his wife Laura Brown and the JGAA established the Bruce Brown Memorial Scholarship in his name to award significant scholarship funds toward JGAA entry fees to deserving JGAA players. This year’s recipients included Mary Beth Doss, Zachary Missigman, and Yuma’s own Alexandria Schmunk and Luis Ramirez.
Max Ayala of Mexicali, Calif. placed first in the Boys 15-18 Division; John Menne of Surprise, Ariz. won the Boys 13-14 Division; Josh Nielsen of Gilbert, Ariz. won the Boys 11-12 Division and Vincent Cervantes of Chandler won in the Boys 10-and-Under Division.
Anne Transier of Prescott Valley, Ariz. won in the Girls 15-18 Division; Ashley Menne of Surprise, Ariz. won in the Girls 13-14 Division; Darlene Maitem of Anthem, Ariz. won in the Girls 11-12 Division and Isabelle Junio of Goodyear, Ariz. won in the Girls 10-and-Under Division.
Conducted by the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA), the Yuma City Junior Championship teed off at Desert Hills Golf Course May 16-17 featuring 60 junior golfers.
“Once again the Yuma City Junior Championship turned out great,” said Scott McNevin, Executive Director of the JGAA. “The competition was pretty tight out there with several playoff needed to decide the champions. We truly appreciate the support from the community and our gracious sponsors.”
