George Rubelsky and Ashley Menne
George Rubelsky of Phoenix fired 3-under-par 141 to win the Boys Championship division at the Maricopa Junior Championship, held July 30-31 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club. After a first-round, 3-over-par 75, Rubelsky started the final round six strokes off the pace set by defending champion, Alan Quezada, of Phoenix. Rubelsky quickly made up ground in the second round with five birdies over six holes, 3-8, and picked up two more on 11 and 13 to card a tournament-low, 6-under 66. It was enough for a two-stroke win over second place finisher Noah Nuez of Laveen, who shot steady rounds of 72-71 to finish at 1-under-par 143. Rajveer Sethi (74-72) of Chandler, Camden Braidech (74-72) of Scottsdale, Ethan Klose (71-75) of Phoenix, and Nicklaus Ummel (71-75) of Scottsdale all finished tied for third place at 2-over-par 146.
In the wake of a win July 16 at the AJGA Junior at River Crossing, Ashley Menne of Surprise set a fast pace in the first round with a bogey-free, 6-under 66, and followed with a 3-under 69 to defend her title in the Girls Championship division by nine strokes at 9-under-par 135. Menne and second-place finisher, Breyana Matthews, of Scottsdale will soon be teammates on the ASU Women’s Golf team in the fall. She shot 73-71—144 to finish at even par 144, and Makenna Cabardo of Scottsdale made a late run at second place with birdies at 15 and 16, before finishing one stroke behind Matthews in third place at 1-over par (73-72).
Michael Kuhl (78-72) of Scottsdale and Kendall (76-74) McCain of Flagstaff – who made and eagle-2 on the par-4 5th hole in the second round – tied for first place in the Boys 15-18 Division at 6-over-par 150 (no playoffs due to COVID-19 precautions). Oscar Uribe of Scottsdale won the Boys 13-14 Division at 2-under par (71-71—142). Joseph Nelson of Gilbert shot 3-over-par 75 (36-39) to win the Boys 11-12 Division. Devan Tahmahkera of Tempe won in the Boys 10 and Under division with a score of 26-over-par 98 (45-53).
Kaylin Johnson of Geneva, Illinois won in the Girls 15-18 division at 7-over par (77-74—151). Alexis Vakasiuola of San Tan Valley finished with a final-round 69 to win the Girls 13-14 division at 1-over
par (76-69—145). Kylie Kuppersmith of Gilbert and Cynthia Lang of Chandler shot matching scores of 10-over par, 42-40—82 to tie for first place in the Girls 11-12 division. And Hannah Nguyen of Phoenix won in the Girls 10 and Under division at 12-over-par 84 (42-42)
