Golf Editor

For the second year, the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA) held the Sam Schanafelt Summer Classic in Scottsdale at Kierland Golf Club and Starfire Golf Club. Contested July 17-18, the event commemorates Sam Schanafelt, a fellow JGAA member who tragically lost his life in a 2022 automobile accident.

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.

Connor Bringhurst of Scottsdale, winner of the Desert Mashie Championship, fired on all cylinders as the only player in the field to record two rounds in the 60s (69-64). With six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 17th, Bringhurst shot his lowest round of the season at 8-under par to blow past the rest of the competitors in the second round by six strokes.

The Corona Del Sol High School senior ran away with the contest and took home the hardware with an impressive 11-under par performance. On the girl’s side, Helm came from behind in the final round to win by one stroke.

The JGAA is thrilled to announce that Alexis Lamadrid has achieved her second American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) victory at the AJGA Huntsville Junior. Alexis clinched with a wire-to-wire performance.

Aubrey Hilgers of Surprise continues to ride the hot hand by winning her second consecutive title on the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) circuit at the Dana Incorporated Junior Open.

Joseph Nelson finished at 10-under par and scraped past Tyler Weihe by one stroke. The win is Nelson’s first in two years. Kaitlyn Moreland came out on top in a playoff against Cynthia Lang to capture the title for her second JGAA win of the season.

A playoff ensued between Leid and Boenning, but only took one hole as Dylan won on the first playoff hole with a birdie on hole 18. Piazza won the championship division by a resounding six strokes ahead of Cynthia Lang who concluded the event at 10-over par.

Alexis Lamadrid of Phoenix rattled off five-straight birdies in the last five holes to polish off a 5-under-par 68. The red-hot back nine propelled her past one of the top junior female golfers in Arizona, Ashley Shaw, by one stroke for the victory.