JGAA Honors Junior Golfers at 2022 Award Event Presented by Troon

Johnnie Clark wins Boys Championship division: Samantha Olson tops the girls’ side

The JGAA announced the 2022 Player of the Year Awards and Sportsmanship Awards across five age divisions at the awards banquet presented by Troon at Papago Golf Course, November 29. Thanks to Troon’s support, the special night included guest speaker PGA TOUR player and Mesa native, Charlie Beljan, also a JGAA alum and much-appreciated longtime sponsor.

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“Congratulations to everyone who made the list,” said Scott McNevin, executive director of the JGAA. “The 2022 season was a fantastic year for the JGAA and we applaud not only these award winners, but all the junior golfers who competed this year.”

Johnnie Clark of Mesa won 2022 Boys Championship division Player of the Year, with four victories, a runner-up, T6 and T10 finishes in seven JGAA tournaments entered. In all, he fired 10 of 13 rounds in the 60s for a top-ranked 68.08 scoring average. The verbal commit to Oklahoma State University also represented Arizona at the Junior America’s Cup, contributing to an historic team second-place finish. In June, a pair of 8-under 64s to take Antigua Milt Coggins AZ Jr Stroke Play sparked a three-win run, which continued through the State Junior Golf Championship and USGA Jr Amateur Qualifier, coming to an end with a runner-up at the Willie Low Invitational. Clark competed in the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur, finishing the stroke play portion at T26, before exiting in Match Play’s round of 16. And Clark earned 2022 Rolex Junior All-American honors, in part, thanks to an April win at the AJGA PING Heather Farr Classic.

Samantha Olson earned Player of the Year honors in the Girls Championship division. She got off to a red-hot start in 2022, winning the first JGAA tournament of the year. She followed up with another win, this time at the first PING Junior Maters Series tournament, Warren Schutte Invitational. And then in April, Olson won the Bryce Molder invitational, the second of four PING Junior Master Series tournament she entered in 2022, posting fourth and T5 in the other two. In overall JGAA competition, Olsen placed sixth or better in 9 of 10 tournaments entered in 2022, which worked out to a third-ranked 71.65 scoring average. Nationally, Olson’s best finishes in AJGA competition included T3, T4 and T6 in eight tournaments entered in 2022. She also qualified for U.S. Girls’ Junior where she finished stroke play tied for sixth place, three strokes off the pace, before exiting in the round of 32.

2022 JGAA Award Recipients

 

Player of the Year Awards

Boys Championship: Johnnie Clark–Mesa

Girls Championship: Samantha Olson –Phoenix

Boys 15 – 18: JJ Brigowatz –Phoenix

Girls 15 – 18: Mackenzie Bream –Phoenix

Boys 13 – 14: Preston Brooke –Gilbert

Girls 13 – 14: Kaitlyn Moreland –Scottsdale

Boys 11 – 12: Troy Stahl –Phoenix

Girls 11 – 12: Mischa Wang –Scottsdale

Boys 10 & Under: Rydder Erbach –Scottsdale

Girls 10 & Under: Beau Ellington –Paradise Valley

 

 

Sportsmanship Awards

Girls 10 & Under- Teria Williams – Avondale, AZ

Boys 10 & Under- Liam MacQueen – Phoenix, AZ

Girls 11 – 12- Taylor Underhill – Gilbert, AZ

Boys 11 – 12- Kallum De Guia – Tucson, AZ

Girls 13 – 14: Natalia Fox – Peoria, AZ

Boys 13 – 14: Nathan Ash – Tempe, AZ

Girls 15 – 18: Kasey Reichard – Peoria, AZ

Boys 15 – 18: Brody Leid – Phoenix, AZ

Girls Championship: Ellie Shirley – Scottsdale, AZ

Boys Championship- Brasen Briones – Tucson, AZ

 

Most Improved Awards

Boys: Ira Goldman – Phoenix, AZ
2021 – 96.24 | 2022 – 82.00

Girls: Raegan Etnyre – Anthem, AZ
2021 – 89.27 | 2022 – 80

 

Volunteer of the Year

Steve Groeneveld

 

Hole-in-One Awards

Sam Basta – 3/27/2022
Desert Mashie Championship
#2 at Encanto 9 Golf Course
95 yards

Everett Corwon – 3/27/2022
Desert Mashie Championship
#16 at Palm Valley Golf Club
137 yards with his 6-iron

Flora Tao – 7/7/2022
Prescott City Junior Championship
#5 at Antelope Hills – South Course
107 yards

Jack Abraham – 7/31/2022
Maricopa Junior Championship
#6 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club
156 yards

Natalia Lamadrid – 9/10/2022
Chandler City Junior Championship
#7 at Whirlwind Golf Club – Devil’s Claw
120 yards

2022 JGAA Albatross/Double Eagle

Oliver Smith – 4/10/2022
Tucson Conquistadores Spring Classic
#7 at Silverbell Golf Course
580-yard par 5 – 225-yard 2nd shot with 5-iron

 

JGAA 2023 membership opens December 7 and tournament registration for January and February events opens December 14. JGAA membership also includes enrolment in Youth on Course, a money-saving program that allows JGAA members to play more than 20 local golf courses (1,700 nationwide) for as little as $5.

To register or learn more, CLICK HERE, or contact Scott McNevin (smcnevin@jgaa.org), 602-944-6168.