Arizona represent! We are proud to announce that two of our alumni, Brian Blanchard and Sam Engel, have won the 9th U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Philadelphia Cricket Club’s Wissahickon Course. Scottsdale residents Brian Blanchard, 31, and his left-handed partner Sam Engel, 29, known as “Team Software,” clinched the title over two promising teenagers from Tennessee, Blades Brown, 17, and Jackson Herrington, 18, in the 18-hole championship match, winning 2-up. This victory is particularly historic as Sam Engel becomes the 10th southpaw to win a USGA championship and the first left-hander in the history of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball.
This championship marks a significant milestone for Blanchard and Engel, who had never qualified for match play in their combined three previous USGA starts: the 2017 U.S. Mid-Amateur and 2018 U.S. Amateur for Blanchard, and the 2023 U.S. Mid-Amateur for Engel.
When asked about what life lessons the JGAA taught him, Brian Blanchard responded with, “JGAA tournaments gave me a lot of resilience. Walking in the summer heat, grinding it out became the norm and helped condition me for national events with lots of rounds.”
JGAA gave Brian a start in competitive golf and was where he played the majority of his junior golf tournaments.
“At my skill level as a junior, it gave me an accessible place to play competitive golf and gain valuable experience.”
Much was the same for his playing partner and former JGAA member Sam Engel.
“The JGAA was a place for me to play as a 15 year old who had never played a golf tournament before. It was there that I learned all the rules and what it took to compete in these events. The quality of play on the JGAA was also something that pushed me super fast to improve my game. I remember playing early on with Sam Triplett and just being amazing by how good the kids are.”
Congratulations to Brian Blanchard and Sam Engel on their outstanding achievement. Their success is a testament to the dedication and talent fostered within our junior golf association.
