Makenzie Cooper wins by three
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- (left to right) Johnnie Clark, Brayden Bozak, Adam Miller
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- (left to right) Alexandria Klemke, Raegan Capizzi, Kaitlyn Helm, Makenzie Cooper
The long-held Antigua Milt Coggins AZ Junior Stroke Play teed off across the Valley at Cave Creek Golf Course, Raven Golf Club and Encanto Golf Course, with nearly 260 local juniors age 8-18 competing in five boys’ and girls’ age divisions. The tournament also served as the second local qualifier for the IMG Junior World Golf Championship July 9-15.
In the first round of Boys Championship competition, Mesa’s Johnnie Clark fired a bogey-free, 8-under 64 at Cave Creek, making the turn at 3-under 33 before posting a 5-under 31 on the way in. Brayden Bozak of Chandler also carded a clean first round – 5-under 67 – to sit three back. Joining the UNLV Men’s Golf roster in the fall, Bozak caught fire in the second round with an eagle-2 on the par-4 10th hole, went 3-under par for the last four holes and finished with a 7-under 65 for the day, -12 for the championship.
In the meantime, Clark shot another 8-under 64! After a 1-under front nine, he hit the afterburners to shoot 7-under 29 on the back, which featured five birdies and an eagle. Clark ended up 12-under par for the championship, four ahead of Bozak in solo-second place and seven strokes clear of Adam Miller (67-68) of Phoenix in third place at -9.
For their efforts, Clark, Bozak and Miller advanced to the IMG Junior World Golf Championship in San Diego.
In the Girls Championship division competition, held at Raven Golf Club, four players shot 2-under-par 70 to lead the first round. Eventual champion, Makenzie Cooper, wasn’t one of them; she sat one off the pace heading into the final round where she eagled Nos. 12 and 15 to post 6-under 66. The Litchfield Park resident en route to the University of Colorado – Boulder in the fall finished the championship at -7, three ahead of Kaitlyn Helm also from Litchfield Park. She shot steady 36-34–70 and 34-36–70 over both days to finish the championship in second place at -4. Alexandria Klemke (72-71) of
Goodyear and Raegan Capizzi (70-73) of Scottsdale tied for third place at -1 for the championship. Capizzi and Klemke advanced to the IMG Junior World Golf Championship in the Girls 15-18 division.
The Boys 15-18 division at Cave Creek ended in a tie for first place at -3 between JJ Brigowatz (74-67) of Phoenix and Chase Pickering (76-65) of Tucson, before Brigowatz prevailed in a playoff. Likewise, the Girls 15-18 division at Raven ended in a tie at +11 between three players – Mackenzie Bream (75-80) of Phoenix; Raegan Etnyre (81-74) of Anthem; and Emmie Rhude (80-75) of Carefree – before Bream prevailed in a playoff.
Joseph Nelson of Gilbert won the Boys 13-14 division, shooting 68-69 at Encanto to finish at -3 for the championship. Nelson, Zack Schaefer and Brady Sheridan advanced to the IMG Junior World Golf Championship in the Boys 13-14 division.
Alexis Vakasiuola of San Tan Valley took the Girls 13-14 division at -1 (75-68). She and Izzy Piazza advanced to the IMG Junior World Golf Championship in the Girls 13-14 division.
Maverick Midthun of Gilbert shot 56-56, -8, at Encanto to win the Boys 11-12 division. Midthun, Brody Olayvar and Dominic Bustos advanced to the IMG Junior World Golf Championship in the Boys 11-12 division. Addison Taylor of Scottsdale shot +13 (67-66) to win the Girls 11-12 division. Taylor and Taylor Underhill advanced to the IMG Junior World Golf Championship in the Girls 11-12 division.
In the 10 and Under division, Nolan Wilson of Litchfield Park shot +3, 66-57, to win on the boy’s side. Wilson and Cam Abood advanced to the IMG Junior World Golf Championship in the Boys 10 and under division.
Priya Natarajan of Phoenix won on the girl’s side after rounds of 72-65, +17. Jessica Hoerr and Teria Williams advanced to the IMG Junior World Golf Championship in the Girls 9-10 division.
FULL RESULTS
About Antigua
The Antigua Group, Inc. is a leading designer and marketer of men’s, women’s and children’s lifestyle apparel and sportswear under the distinctive Antigua label. In 2009, Antigua celebrated its 30th Anniversary serving the apparel needs of the Golf, Licensed Sports, Corporate and identity Specialty Retail markets.
