The Scottsdale Junior Invitational hosted the fourth PING Junior Masters Series event this past weekend at Grayhawk Golf Club, featuring Arizona’s top junior golfers competing on a tour-tested golf course that recently hosted the NCAA Golf Championships (2021-2023) and the PGA TOUR in the past (2007-2009). The prestigious series attracts top-ranked boys and girls from Arizona, along with a select group of talented juniors from out of state, all eager to challenge their skills against Arizona’s incredible local talent. The event highlighted the rising stars of golf, many of whom will eventually compete at the collegiate level.
In the Boys Championship Division, the field bunched up after round one with a tight race. Ethan Butters of Chandler carded a sensational 5-under 67 on the challenging Raptor Course. He couldn’t have asked for a hotter start to the tournament, racking up five birdies and a spectacular eagle on the par-5 7th. He executed his game plan to perfection, yet Scottsdale’s Evan Tyree hung in there to put himself firmly in contention at 3-under setting up a final-round showdown. Butters slid a bit from his first-round form and began playing to protect his slim margin, while Tyree turned things up a notch amid tough conditions and posted one of the day’s lowest scores to tie the leader after 36 holes. We’re heading to a playoff; the stakes couldn’t be higher. They walk along the signature 18th hole par 5 to duke it out, head-to-head. Butters comes up clutch as he drains a birdie putt on the 1st playoff hole to defeat Tyree and snag his first victory of the 2026 season. Tyree claims second place while Frederick Ignatios and Easton Rieschl of Scottsdale tie for third at 2-under.
The Girls Championship told a different story. While day one hinted at another close race, Aubrey Hilgers of Surprise took control on Sunday. She turned out to be the only player to shoot under par on the day, and she did so emphatically, firing a 3-under 69. She seized control with a 2-under 34 on the back nine and never looked back. The most impressive part is her steadiness and tenacious style of play, going wire to wire, posting back-to-back under-par rounds, and never relinquishing the lead. Hilgers wrapped up the event at 5-under par where she earned her first win of the 2026 season. Claire Brooks of Scottsdale finished runner up at 2-over par and Charlene Lamb of Scottsdale concluded the tournament in third place at 3-over par. A special thank-you to Grayhawk Golf Club, Bryce Molder of Trident Capital Partners, and CMC Design Co. for their support in making this event a success.
