Former JGAA golfer and current Virginia Tech Hokie Kobe Valociek made it to the winner’s circle for the first time in his collegiate career. The Virginia Tech senior carded an 11-under 205 (70-69-66) to become the first Hokie golfer to win an individual title since 2021.
Class of 2022 JGAA Alum Makenzie Cooper fired off three rounds in the 60s at the Evie Odom Invitational to secure her first collegiate victory. Cooper is a recent transfer from the University of Colorado and is off to a hot start with her new program (University of Chattanooga Mocs). The Litchfield Park native posted a school-record total of 203 (68-68-67), including a career-low three-under par 67. She captured the individual title by two strokes over host Old Dominion’s Puneet Bajwa in second (205).
Wheaton Ennis of Litchfield Park put on a clinic at the 2023 AJGA Invitational Presented by PING. Ennis kicked off the last round with a commanding nine-stroke lead. He managed to score three birdies on the first nine holes, but unfortunately, he lost ground with two bogeys on the 6th and 8th. However, as he made the turn, he maintained a comfortable enough lead to clinch the victory, despite finishing the back nine two strokes over par. Ennis finished with a 6-under-par 207 to win the Boys Division. The win marks his first AJGA Invitational victory.
JGAA Alum and Loyola Marymount University golfer Riley Lewis achieved an outstanding feat in the world of collegiate golf. The collegiate standout surpassed his own program record and etching his name into LMU’s history books as the first golfer to complete a 54-hole event with a score under 200. Lewis delivered three remarkable rounds in the 60s at the USF-Howard Intercollegiate at TPC Harding Park, concluding at a staggering 19-under par with scores of 67-68-62—197.
The 3rd Annual Legacy Cup was played this past weekend at Dobson Ranch Golf Course and the day was full of excitement and energy. The event was filled with 25 four person teams all vying to become the newest championship team of this wonderful JGAA Foundation event. Players were handed a swag bag at check-in that included SMASH headwear, golf balls, and a new Footjoy Hydro golf glove. Everyone was also encouraged to pick up some raffle tickets for both the Golf Car Raffle and the on site tournament raffle.
JGAA Alum and current ASU men’s golfer Preston Summerhays has played in a few PGA Tour events, including the 2022 WM Phoenix Open on a sponsor exemption. The Sun Devil captain will get another chance at this week’s Fortinet Championship at Silverado Resort and Spa-North Course in Napa, Cali.
Summerhays shot 5-under 211 (62-67-72) and then beat Max Herendee of Illinois in a playoff to win the 72-player Sahalee Players Championship, hosted by the University of Washington, in Sammamish, WA.
The Chandler City Junior Championship took place Sept. 9-10 at Whirlwind Golf Club at Wild Horse Pass and Foothills Golf Club. In the Boys Championship division, held at Whirlwind Golf Club-Devils Claw, Vincent Cervantes of Chandler stood four shots back of Adam Croix of Peoria after a two-under par 70 in the first round. Cervantes would climb right back into the mix, thanks in part to seven birdies carded in the final round. The Chandler resident shot six-under-par 66 to tie atop the leaderboard with Oscar Uribe of Scottsdale at eight-under par. Uribe and Cervantes ended up going into a playoff to determine the victor of the Boys Championship division. Cervantes won on the first playoff hole with a par to outlast Uribe and earn his first victory of the season in his own backyard.
Last fall junior golfers from around the country began signing National Letters of Intent to play college golf, including 48 from Arizona.
2008 JGAA alum and eight-time winner on the Japan Tour Chan Kim claims his second Korn Ferry Tour victory on Sunday, August 27th at Hillcrest Country Club for the 2023 Albertsons Boise Open. With Kim’s second-straight win, he officially becomes PGA TOUR bound and climbs up to number two in the Korn Ferry Tour Top 30.
Tyler Anderson of Phoenix shot 5-under-par 66 to sit on top of the round-one leaderboard at the DLB Custom Homes Scottsdale City Junior Championship, held August 12-13 at TPC Scottsdale (Champions and Stadium), Orange Tree Golf Club and Continental Golf Club. Anderson collected seven birdies in the first round at TPC Scottsdale’s Champions Course. Highlighted by a back-nine 33 to separate himself from the pack after day one.
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