Connor Bringhurst, Ailis Tribolet & Anya Mathur Win JGAA Fall Classic

We sure enjoyed the cool weather at this year’s JGAA Fall Classic, Nov. 4-5, at Lone Tree, Augusta Ranch and Las Colinas Golf Club. In the Boys Championship division at Lone Tree, the tournament kicked off with a bang as Connor Bringhurst of Scottsdale fired on all cylinders to record one of his lowest rounds of the season with an 8-under 63. The noteworthy performance was polished off by a 29 on the back nine and 11 total birdies for the round. Even with the stellar start, it wasn’t enough room to breathe atop the leaderboard as four players remained within striking distance just three shots or less behind him. The pressure didn’t phase the Scottsdale native, posting a bogey-free 33 on the front nine to stay even-keel and focused down the stretch in the final day of play. Nobody was able to catch up once he gained momentum making the turn. Bringhurst wound up running away with the championship by four strokes and carded a 10-under 132 over the two days (63-69). The win marks his third JGAA victory of the 2024 season. Nicholas Lyman of Surprise took solo-second at 6-under par, while Sebastian Velasquez of Texas and Aleksei Panek of Scottsdale tied for third at 5-under par.

In the Girls Championship division held at Las Colinas, a duel showdown ensued between Ailis Tribolet of Chandler and Anya Mathur of Scottsdale. The two went back-and-forth throughout regulation as they kept switching spots at the top of the standings. Both players were the only two in the entire championship field to record back-to-back rounds in the 60s. Heading into the final three holes, the scores remained tight and narrow like some of the fairways out on the golf course. After regulation, Tribolet and Mathur tied for first place at 6-under par. A playoff determined the last girl standing after an even matchup over 36 holes. After four playoff holes, Tribolet and Mathur tie for first due to darkness.

Hank Miller of Phoenix emerged with top honors in the Boys 15-18 division at Lone Tree, delivering a brilliant performance capped off by an ace on the par-3 2nd from 133 yards out using a nine iron. With low rounds of 68 and 70, Miller clinched the division by five strokes. He finished at 4-under par.

In the Girls 15-18 division, held at Las Colinas, a two-way tie for first place unfolded with a closely contested battle till the very end. Phoenician Audrey Weinshel triumphs in a playoff to earn the title.

In the Boys 13-14 division, held at Las Colinas Golf Club, Maverick Midthun of Gilbert put up two identical 65s to blow past his competitors and win by four strokes at 12-under par.

Sophia Miller of Iowa sealed the deal in the Girls 13-14 division at Las Colinas Golf Club with rounds of 73 and 76, finishing at 7-over par and four strokes ahead of the rest of the field.

At Augusta Ranch Golf Club, Nicolas Urrea Ocegueda of Nogales took home the trophy in the Boys 11-12 division title. Amis ended up five-over par for the tournament and won by a stroke. His first win of the season. Amelie Khosla from Scottsdale shot 6-over 67 for 18 holes at Augusta Ranch to outlast her opponents by two strokes for the Girls 11-12 division title.

The younger golfers also displayed their talent, with Joey Morin from Gilbert claiming the Boys 10 and Under division title at Augusta Ranch by a dominant 21-stroke margin at 3-over par. The performance is his best to date in 2024 and blew everybody else out of the water. Emmaline Dang from Mesa won the Girls 10 and Under division with a score of 23-over par, 84.