(left to right) Brock Goyen, Anawin Pikulthong, Trevor lewis (via AZ Golf Association)
Gilbert resident and longtime JGAA member, Anawin Pikulthong overcame a two-stroke deficit to win the U.S. Amateur Qualifier, held July 11-12 at Mesa’s Longbow Golf Club. Next stop: the 2022 U.S. Amateur, set for August 15-21 at The Ridgewood Country Club, Paramus, N.J.
Pikulthong went on to shoot 6-under 65 in the final round to clinch the win at -10, finishing one stroke clear of former JGAA member and senior on the BYU Golf team Brock Goyen, who also qualified. Jeffrey Guan of Australia and first round leader Trevor Lewis of Prescott finished tied for third place at -4. Lewis – who competed in JGAA tournaments from 2012 to 2022 and currently plays college golf close to home for the Embry-Riddle Eagles – earned the final qualifying spot in a playoff.
Gavin Aurilia
A third JGAA alum Gavin Aurilia, sophomore at USC, earned a U.S. Amateur qualifying spot in a two-round competition at Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson July 19, where he prevailed with a birdie on the first playoff hole.
Pikulthong, Goyen, Lewis and Aurilia emerged from the 7,749 tournament entries to take on 312-player championship field of the best junior golfers in the world.
