The 2024 PING Invitational, one of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona’s most sought-after events of the season, was held July 15-16 at Grand Canyon University Golf Course in Phoenix.
Tempe’s Hogan O’Malley swept the field in the Boys Championship division, starting out hot with a tournament low opening round 64 (-7 ), which included a 29 on the back nine. O’Malley went into the final round leading by six shots, providing a nice buffer as he coasted in the clubhouse with a final round score of 2-under-par 69 to secure the 2024 PING Invitational title with a final score of -9 for the 36-hole tournament.
Jordan Cowing of Gilbert finished the tournament with a final score of 3-under par (69-70) to secure her five-stroke win in the Girls Championship division. For the Boys 15-18 division, Ayden LaVern of Avondale secured his win with rounds of 69 and 72 to finish at -1 overall for the tournament. For the Girls 15-18 division, a playoff occurred between Isabel Helgemoe of Scottsdale and Aubrey Pizzillo of Goodyear. Both girls finished the tournament with rounds of 72-75, 5-over par for the tournament. After a playoff, Helgemoe edged out Pizzillo to finish in first place.
AJ Ramos of Tucson secured his Boys 13-14 division win, firing 69-67 for a 6-under-par total for two rounds. Addison Taylor of Scottsdale earned her win in the Girls 13-14 division by eight shots with rounds of 71-75 for a 4-over-par total for two rounds.
In the Boys 11-12 division, Nolan Wilson (35-35) of Litchfield Park and Cat Dann (36-34) of Mesa finished the tournament tied for first place at 2-under par. Wilson went on to secure the win in a playoff. Jessica Hoerr of Phoenix placed first in the Girls 11-12 division. She finished at +6 for the tournament, one stroke clear of the next competitor, after a 38-40—78 performance.
Kyle Wojtcuk of Waddell recorded a two-round score of 71(32-39) to win the Boys 10 and Under division by two shots. Amy Xuan of Chandler and Emmaline Dang of Mesa both recorded 39-38—77 (+5) before Xuan topped Dang in a playoff to win the Girls 10 and Under division.