The JGAA Winter Classic teed off at Grand Canyon University Golf Course and Encanto Golf Course December 5-6. Hosted by the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA), the field featured 151 junior golfers – boys and girls – ages 8-18 competing in five age groups.
In the Boys Championship Division, Jake Carlson of Phoenix got off to an incredible start on the front nine of the final round with seven consecutive birdies. He made par on No. 8 before adding his eighth birdie at the ninth hole of the par-71 Grand Canyon University Golf Course to card an 8-under-par 28. Although he cooled off a bit on the back nine with a five-over-par 40, Carlson finished the 36-hole tournament at one-over-par 143 (75-68). This was enough to edge out Zane Smith and Brock Goyen who finished tied for second at 144. Smith won the scorecard tiebreaker to take second-place honors.
In the Girls Championship Division, Scottsdale’s Emily Mahar notched her fourth victory of the season by a commanding eight-stroke margin over second-place finisher, Emma Reyes, and Ashley Ohland placed third. Mahar fired an even-par 73-69—142 at Grand Canyon University Golf Course.
Max Engel of Scottsdale won the Boys 15-18 Division at 7-over par (77-72—149). Jacob Goode of Tucson won the Boys 13-14 Division at 6-over par (76-72—148). At Encanto Golf Course, Anawin Pikulthong of Gilbert took top honors in the Boys 11-12 Division at 4-under par (57-59—116), and Nero Nuez from Laveen won the Boys 10 and Under Division at 10-over par (35-35—70).
In the Girls 15-18 Division, Aleksia Mikalacki of Scottsdale won at 9-over par (75-76—151). Brooke Veres of Goodyear won the Girls 13-14 Division at 24-over par (83-83—166). Sneha Yadav of Scottsdale won the Girls 11-12 Division at 7-over par (65-62—127), and Kyla Layman of Glendale won in the Girls 10 and Under Division at 18-over par (39-39—78).
