The final local qualifying tournament to enter the coveted IMG Academy Junior World Championship was recently contested June 6-7 in the Antigua Milt Coggins IMG Qualifier #2, yielding 19 players that are heading to the championship. The Junior World Championships are held July 8-13 in San Diego.
Papago Golf Course hosted the Boys Championship division, with the first qualifier Adam Miller of Phoenix earned top medalist honors after clinching the victory after rounds of 67-67, winning by three strokes. At 7-under par, future Sun Devil Anawin Pikulthong of Chandler took the second qualifier spot after finishing the tournament with eight birdies and two eagles. The third and final player from the Boys Championship division to qualify was Tucson’s Carlson Astiazaran just one shot back of Pikulthong, 6-under par (68-70). Papago also hosted the Boys 15-18 division, with Hogan O’Malley of Tempe shooting consistent rounds of 71-72 to land in first place by a demanding five strokes at 1-under par.
The Girls Championship division squared off at Encanto Golf Club, with two qualifiers heading to San Diego. Taylor Wilczek of Anthem and Eva Heinz both fired 69-69 to finish neck-and-neck atop first place at 2-under par. Wilczek prevailed late in the playoff to seal the victory and hoist up the trophy. Alexis Vakasiuola of San Tan Valley shot 69-71 to come in second place at even par. Both Taylor Wilczek and Eva Heinz qualified for the IMG Junior World Championship.
In the Girls 15-18 division, also contested at Encanto, Makenna Cox of Scottsdale ran away with the victory in the second round after a strong 1-over-par 71 to win by five strokes after being tied with Kyra Allen of Phoenix. Kyra Allen ended up finishing solo second at 8-over par, 72-76.
Encanto 18 hosted the Boys and Girls 13-14 divisions. Taking top spot on the podium at three-under on the boy’s side gave Asher Nelson (72-65) of Scottsdale a clear path to the championship. Zachary Schaefer, who won the Betsy King IMG Junior World Qualifier in a playoff, took second place at 1-under (72-67). Since Schaefer already qualified, Bo Moore of Phoenix and Nathan Ash of Tempe each secured the final two qualifier spots.
On the girl’s side, Hannah Nguyen of Phoenix took total control and wounded up winning by four strokes, shooting 74-76, +6, over Peyton DeCosta of Glendale, who shot 79-75, 10-over par to take second. Due to Nguyen already qualifying, DeCosta took the first qualifying spot while Taylor Underhill took the final spot after a third-place finish at 11-over (78-77).
Three players in the Boys 11-12 division moved on. Nolan Wilson of Litchfield Park shot 1-over (61-60) at Encanto’s nine-hole course (played twice) to come out victorious by two strokes. Troy Stahl (62-59) of Phoenix and Henry Newkirk of Scottsdale tied for second place at 3-over par. Henry Newkirk, Phoenix Button and Cason Dezzani each took the remaining spots.
The Girls 11-12 division, Hayden Nguyen of Peoria shot 64-66 on Encanto 9 (played twice) for the win at 10-over par, and Addison Taylor of Scottsdale carded +13 (66-67) to join Nguyen in San Diego.
Cat Dann of Mesa was victorious in the Boys 10 and Under division at +4 (63-61). He finished seven strokes ahead of Jaxon Luzar of Chandler who finished at 67-64, +11. Cat Dann and Maddux Zlotoff both earned the final spots to San Diego.
In the Girls 10 and Under division, Kimsey Terell of Phoenix won her second IMG Junior World Qualifier of the season after finishing at 13-over par (67-66). Abby Kelly of Mesa and Amelie Khosla of Scottsdale secured the last two spots.
The IMG Academy Junior World Championship is now fully set with around 38 JGAA golfers heading to the championships to showcase their talent against some of the world’s best.
