The JGAA announced special award winners for the 2020 seasons, including Player of the Year and Sportsmanship awards across five age divisions, with additional recognition going to those who made holes in one, Most Improved players and the Volunteer of the Year.
“Every year the membership and level of play continues to rise,” said Scott McNevin, Executive Director of the JGAA. “More kids, lower scores, and best of all, there were a bunch of kids to consider for the sportsmanship award. It’s very gratifying to see this vital aspect of the game grow along with these young players.”
Click to View 2020 JGAA Awards Flip Book
Bound for Marquette University in the fall, Max Lyons of Scottsdale won the Player of the Year award in the Boys Championship division. He managed to notch four wins, including 11 top-10s in 13 starts, thanks in part to a handful of low rounds. Lyons fired a final-round, 8-under 63 to win the Thunderbird Junior Classic; a 7-under-par 64 in the final round of the Scottsdale Junior Championship; and a sizzling 11-under-par 61 to win the Chandler City Junior Championship. Lyons also placed fifth in the highly competitive AJGA PING Heather Farr Classic. He finished the season with a 69.79 scoring average over 24 rounds.
In the Girls Championship division, Calynne Rosholt of Cave Creek – who recently signed to play college golf for ASU – placed sixth or better in all nine events she entered. Two of her four wins came in coveted PING Jr Masters Series tournaments. In the first, Thunderbird Invitational, Rosholt was the only player in red numbers, closing out the tournament with four-consecutive birdies. In the second, Willie Low Invitational presented by MJ Insurance, Rosholt made a birdie on the final hole to enter a three-way tie for first place (no playoff due to health and safety precautions). She earn another co-victory at the Desert Mashie Championship as well as an outright win at the Chandler City Junior Golf Championship. She finished the season with a 71.19 scoring average over 16 rounds.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR
10 and Under Division
Hannah Nguyen – Girls
7 wins, 3rd or better in all 15 events entered
· Southwest PGA Junior Champ
· Prescott City Jr Championship
· Phoenix City Junior Championship
· SWS – Antigua Tour Champ
· Maricopa Junior Championship
Cason Dezzani – Boys
3 wins, 5th or better in all 9 starts
· Prescott City Jr Championship
· Phoenix City Junior Championship
· Chandler City Junior Championship
· Desert Mashie Championship
· Chandler City Junior Championship
11-12 Division
Cynthia Lang – Girls
2 wins, 7th or better in all 15 starts
· Maricopa Junior Championship
· Desert Mashie Championship
Joseph Nelson – Boys
5 wins, 8th or better in all 14 events
· Southwest PGA Junior Champ
· Phoenix City Junior Championship
· Maricopa Junior Championship
· Desert Mashie Championship
· Scottsdale Junior Championship
13-14 Division
Ashley Shaw – Girls
5 wins, 8th or better in all 17 events
· Thunderbird Junior Classic
· Prescott City Jr Championship
· IHOP Classic
· Scottsdale Junior Championship
· JGAA Fall Classic
Oscar Uribe – Boys
4 wins, placed 6th or better in all 14 starts
· Phoenix Metro Jr. Championship
· Tucson City Jr Champ – Tuc Conqstadrs
· Antigua Milt Coggins AZ Jr Stroke Play
· Maricopa Junior Championship
15-18 Division
Annie Dawson – Girls
3 wins, placed 6th or better in 13 of 14 events
· Antigua Milt Coggins AZ Jr Stroke Play
· Phoenix City Junior Championship
· Scottsdale Junior Championship
Michael Kuhl – Boys
3 wins, 8 top-10s in 11 starts
· Antigua Milt Coggins AZ Jr Stroke Play
· Maricopa Junior Championship
· Chandler City Junior Championship
Championship Division
Calynne Rosholt – Girls
4 wins, placed 6th or better in all 9 events entered
· Thunderbird Invitational
· Willie Low Invitational
· Desert Mashie Championship
· Chandler City Junior Championship
Max Lyons – Boys
4 wins, 11 top-10s in 13 starts
· Thunderbird Junior Classic
· PING Invitational
· Scottsdale Junior Championship
· Chandler City Junior Championship
SPORTSMANSHIP
10 & Under Division
Gabrielle Doss – Girls
David Vanden Branden – Boys
11-12 Division
Julia Herzberg – Girls
Everett Corwon – Boys
13-14 Division
Lily Huether – Girls
Jai Agrawal – Boys
15-18 Division
Alexandria Klemke – Girls
Tanner Olson – Boys
Championship Division
Malia Uyeshiro – Girls
Colton Horn – Boys
MOST IMPROVED
· JGAA member for three years
· Boys 15-18 division
· Low Round | 2018 – 98 | 2019 – 78 | 2020 – 75
· Scoring Average | 2018 – 101.50 (2 events, 4 rounds) | 2019 – 89 (5 events, 10 rounds) | 2020 – 78.15 (6 events, 13 rounds)
· JGAA member for two years
· Girls 15-18 division
· Low Round | 2019 – 85 | 2020 – 73
· Scoring Average | 2019 – 88 (6 events, 11 rounds) | 2020 – 79.12 (9 events, 16 rounds)
HOLES IN ONE
· Antigua Milt Coggins Stroke Play
· No. 7, Encanto 18 Golf Course
· 130 yards
Johnny Walker, June 16
· State Junior Championship
· No.6, TPC Scottsdale, Champions Course
· 189 yards, 5-iron
Brayden Bozak, July 16
· PING Invitational
· No.8, Grand Canyon University GC
· 183 yards, 8 iron
Kendall McCain, July 22
· Albatross at the IHOP Classic
· No. 7, Kierland Golf Club – Ironwood
· 532-yard par 5: 250-yard 4-iron
· Phoenix City Junior Championship
· No. 11, Legacy Golf Club
· 137 yards, 8-iron
Dallin Delgado, September 13
· Chandler City Junior Championship
· No. 14, Whirlwind GC – Devil’s Claw
· 172 yards, 8-iron
Kendall Hayward, October 31
· JGAA Fall Classic
· No. 8, Lone Tree Golf Course
· 134 yards, 8-iron
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR OF THE YEAR AWARD
Mark Ohlendorf: Volunteered in 12 tournaments over a total of 24 days
