Ben Lorenz, Anawin Pikulthong, Tucker Clark and Mahanth Chirravuri take on international field
The 2019 Junior America’s Cup kicks off July 22-25 with team Arizona set to compete at Blackhawk Golf Club in Edmonton, Alberta among an elite international field of 18 teams representing Alberta, British Columbia, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Mexico I, Mexico II, Montana, Nevada, Northern California, Oregon, San Diego, Southern California, Sun Country, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
Ben Lorenz of Peoria returns to Arizona’s Junior America’s Cup team after a fourth-place finish last year. He joins Tucker Clark of Paradise Valley, Anawin Pikulthong of Gilbert, and Mahanth Chirravuri of Chandler. They will compete in a 54-hole format where their three lowest scores will determine the team score. All players also will be competing for the Sally Pini award recognizing the individual medalist.
“We look forward to the Junior America’s Cup each year,” said Scott McNevin, Executive Director of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA). “It’s a storied event with a long history that includes many of the top professionals on tour today. The Arizona team is very strong this year. We’re looking for a solid finish.”
Arizona Boys Team
Ben Lorenz, class of 2020 at Sunrise Mountain High School, sits on top of the leaderboard for the JGAA Player of the year Award. The verbal commit to the University of Oklahoma has three wins and eight top-10 finishes after 11 tournaments this season. Most notably in June, he won the State Junior Golf Championship by seven strokes, thanks to a sizzling second-round, 8-under-par 64 at Paradise Valley Country Club. A week later he won the Willie Low Invitational, a PING Junior Masters Series tournament, by again firing 8-under par, this time a 63, at Phoenix Country Club.
Tucker Clark, class of 2020 at Arcadia High School and verbal commit to Notre Dame, joins the Junior America’s Cup team after playing a key role last year in team Arizona’s historic win at the 50th Hogan Cup. Clark has four top-3 finishes, including a 2nd place finish in the Bryce Molder Invitational, 3rd Wigwam Invitational and 3rd place in Raven Invitational.
Anawin Pikulthong, class of 2023 at Hamilton High School, sits in third place in the race for player of the year honors after 13 events played, two wins and 11 top-10s. His victories include Tucson Spring Championship and Jr World Qualifier.
Recently, Pikulthong finished in second place at the highly competitive IMG Junior World Championship in the Boys 13-14 division.
Also a member of the winning Hogan Cup team 2018, Mahanth Chirravuri has a one win and seven top-10s in nine tournaments entered in JGAA events. His top finishes include a victory at the Southwest PGA Junior Championship and 2nd in Raven place Invitational. He is verbally committed to play for USC in 2022 after his senior year at Hamilton High School.
