(left to right) Ryan Francisco, Ken Vegors, Mahanth Chirravuri, Aaryanna Morris, Darryl Berger and Geoffrey Turbow
The Thunderbirds and the JGAA hosted a special one-round tournament at Gainey Ranch Golf Club May 22 to honor Arizona’s 2021-2022 high school golf senior class.
Brophy College Preparatory’s Brayden Bozak teed off in the first group. Set to play for UNLV in the fall, he became the early clubhouse leader after an even-par 72. In the final group of the day, Hamilton High School’s Mahanth Chirravuri – bound for USC – and Williams Field High School’s Rylan Johnson, soon to be an Oregon State Beaver, gave chase. Chirravuri turned at even par, and Johnson +1, before both birdied holes 14 and 15. Johnson immediately picked up a third birdie on the very next hole to level the competition at -2 thru 16. Chirravuri then closed out the championship with a birdie on the final hole. Johnson (71, -1) came in third. Bozak finished solo-third place.
Four players finished T4 at +1: Jake Webb, Desert Mountain High School, Colorado Mesa; Carter Wilkes, Red Mountain High School Utah Valley University; Sam Schanafelt, Horizon High School; Alex Seibal, Corona Del Sol High School, University of Illinois – Springfield.
Aaryanna Morris of Saint John Paul II Catholic High School took top honors in the Girls division. On her way to Seattle University in the fall, she made birdie on her final hole, No. 9, to hold the early lead at even par. About an hour behind, soon to be playing for the University of Montana, Raina Ports, of Ironwood Ridge High School, sat 3-over after 12 holes. She then birdied her 14th and 18th holes (stared on back nine) to finish in second place at +1.
Cienega High School’s Marley Moncada and Chloe Tarkany of Cactus Shadows High School teed off in the same group. En route to New Mexico State in the fall, Moncada made the turn at 2-over par and then level-par on her back nine to finish in third place. Tarkany came in fourth place at 4-over par; she will play for Belmont University in the fall.
“This event is just a fun way to say farewell and best of luck to our members who, in many cases, have been playing in JGAA events with us since they were in grade school,” said Scott McNevin, Executive Director of the JGAA. “It’s more of a casual atmosphere that allows the players to have a little fun as their high school golf careers end and their college careers begin.”
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About The Thunderbirds
The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 280 “life” members who have helped the tournament eclipse $161 million in charitable giving since its inception in 1932 (through the 2020 tournament). For more information on The Thunderbirds or the 2022 WM Phoenix Open, visit www.wmphoenixopen.com.
