Jake Goyen and Cynthia Lang Win Maricopa Junior Championship

The Maricopa Junior Championship took place July 23 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club. Jake Goyen of Mesa managed to stay cool, calm, and collected in the intense heat. Goyen started the event at even par through the front nine. The tough and dry conditions led to a lot of difficult scoring opportunities, but that didn’t stop Goyen from capitalizing on birdie looks. Goyen finished with four birdies on the day to card a one-under 71 (36-35). Austin Bullard of Gilbert and Brogan Paschal of Gilbert were right behind him at even par in a tie for second. Joseph Nelson of Gilbert placed in fourth at one-over.

Tied atop the leaderboard, Cynthia Lang of Chandler and Katie Hauptman of Phoenix each shared top honors at even par to end regulation. Lang and Hauptman both refused to let their guard down as they went back and forth throughout the entire round. In this tightly contested leaderboard, they both went into a playoff to decide the winner. Cynthia Lang prevailed on the second playoff hole to win her first JGAA tournament of the 2023 season. Lily Huether of Tucson, who just won the Phoenix City Junior Championship, finished in solo-third at three-over par (75).

In the Boys 15-18 Yellow Division, Cade Sherwood of Gilbert won by one stroke with a 2-under par 70. In the Boys 15-18 Blue Division, Tobias Trejo Tucson took the victory by two strokes with a 2-under par 70.

Ethan Butters of Chandler carried his success from the Phoenix City Junior Championship to this event as he goes back-to-back in the Boys 13-14 division. Butters ended up in red figures yet again with a four-under par performance (68). This round makes it his third-straight round in the 60s to win by seven strokes. Cason Dezzani of Scottsdale wins the Boys 11-12 division by an impressive eight strokes after firing a three-under 33 (nine holes). And Cat Dann of Mesa claimed the Boys 10 and Under division by a large gap with a score of two-under par (34).

This tournament is no different than the Phoenix City Junior Championship when it comes to repeats. Rylee Stovall of Litchfield Park goes back-to-back-to-back in the Girls 15-18 division at two-over par (74) to win by two strokes. Hannah Nguyen of Phoenix also goes back-to-back-to-back in the Girls 13-14 division at two-over par (74). Hayden Nguyen of Peoria goes back-to-back in the Girls 11-12 division at one-over par (37) to win by eight strokes. Amy Xuan of Chandler won the Girls 10 and Under division at 2-over par (38).