Alec Hilgers & Alexis Vakasiuola Earn First JGAA Win Of The Season At 2025 Desert Mashie Spring Championship

The 44^th annual Desert Mashie Spring Championship teed off March 23-24, with a field of 317 players at Encanto 18- and 9-hole Golf Courses and Briarwood Country Club. This event is a Local Qualifier for the Notah Begay Junior Championship. The juniors that advance from this Local Qualifier will go the Regional AZ Qualifier at Whirlwind Golf Club in early September. Congrats to Hudson Roberts of Chandler on jarring his second ace of the 2025 season!

In the Boys Championship division, held at Encanto Golf Course, Alec Hilgers fired on all cylinders from his opening tee shot. The senior out of Surprise kicked things off with six birdies and one lone bogey to card a 5-under 65. His 5-under finish led to a tie atop the leaderboard with Ajay Morris of Avondale after round one. Hilgers shut the door early on Sunday as he nearly broke 30 on the front nine. The impressive play amounted to 10 total birdies to roll past the rest of the field at 12-under par for the event. The win marks his first ever JGAA victory as Hilgers earned top honors by five strokes. Hogan O’Malley of Tempe finished solo-second at 7-under par and Ajay Morris of Avondale claimed third place at 6-under par.

In the Girls Championship division, former Player of the Year Alexis Vakasiuola took home the title this year by four strokes, after maintaining an identical scorecard with, 70-70—140 at Encanto. Vakasiuola trailed two other players after day one by a stroke, but that didn’t phase her from sticking to the gameplan. The San Tan Valley native clawed back into contention and stayed resilient down the stretch to capture the top spot. Her back-nine 33 helped seal the victory after going bogey-free and making tons of clutch putts when it mattered most. Vakasiuola concluded the event at even par to win by four strokes. The win is also her first of the 2025 season. Alyssa Rigby of Washington, Kaitlyn Helm of Litchfield Park and Katherine Keith of California tied for second at 4-over par.

Contested at Encanto, Tate Tally of Scottsdale won the Boys 15-18 division at 6-over par, (73-73—146), and Saylar May of Canada clinches the Girls 15-18 Division by four strokes at 6-over par, (70-76—146).

At Briarwood Country Club, Troy Stahl of Phoenix beat Hagen Lancaster of Anthem in a playoff to win the Boys 13-14 division, while Mesa’s Abby Kelly won the Girls 13-14 division by two shots at 9-over par (76-77-153).

On the Encanto 9 Golf Course, Cam Abood out of Paradise Valley took top honors by two strokes in the Boys 11-12 Division at 2-over par for the tournament (61-61—122). Amy Xuan of Chandler outlasted Amelie Khosla by a stroke to run it back for another title in the Girls 11-12 division at 15 over par, (70-65—135).

Joey Morin of Gilbert also goes back-to-back in the Boys 10 and Under division at 5 over par (31-34—65).  Aviana Vilar of Peoria won the Girls 10 and Under division by four strokes after firing a 9-over-par scorecard, 34-35—69, at the Encanto 9 Golf Course.

“The Desert Mashie is more than a tournament—it’s a legacy that unites our community through the game of golf,” said Scott McNevin, Executive Director of the JGAA. “Since 1946, this event has opened doors for young players, creating opportunities and honoring the spirit of those who paved the way. We’re proud to help carry this tradition forward, making the game we love accessible to the next generation.”

The Desert Mashie Golf Club – formed by a group of Phoenix-area golf enthusiasts in 1946 – first held the Desert Mashie Spring Championship in 1981 at Encanto Golf Course, and it became a JGAA-sanctioned event in 1992.  The founding fathers of the club were Dr. Thomas A. Crump, Aubrey C. Aldridge, Earl Le Near, Earnest S. Bartlett, Dr. Lowell C. Wormley, Curtis “Dock” Earl, William Robbie” Robinson, Ray Mercado and Densil Perdue.  Today the Desert Mashie is the oldest public golf club in Arizona.