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- Beau Ellington and Kaden Leivian
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- Boys Championship Division
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- Girls Championship Division
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- Beau Ellington
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- Thunderbird
The third PING Junior Masters event of the season, the 32nd annual Thunderbird Invitational, took place this past weekend at Papago Golf Club. While most Arizonans recognize The Thunderbirds for their role in producing the WM Phoenix Open, fewer realize the group’s deep and lasting impact on junior golf, youth development, and community access throughout the state.
The Thunderbird Invitational brings together Arizona’s top junior players and nationally ranked competitors (ages 13–18) to compete in one of the state’s premier junior tournaments as part of the PING Junior Masters Series, an invitation-only circuit for elite junior golfers.
“Everybody associates The Thunderbirds with the WM Phoenix Open, but most don’t know what they do for junior golf,” said JGAA Executive Director Scott McNevin. “They support this event financially and show up in person to help run it. Their impact on junior golf in Arizona is significant and lasting.”
In the Boys Championship, Kaden Leivian of Kansas made the most of his trip to Arizona, (dry) heating up early with a five-under 67 highlighted by an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole. With scoring margins razor thin near the top of the leaderboard, two other players matched Leivian’s opening round 67 while several more remained within striking distance.
The final round shaped up for a classic shootout, but Leivian never lost momentum. He followed his opening round with a steady two-under performance to finish at seven-under par and notch the victory. AJ Ramos, who famously shot 59 a year ago, finished second at four-under, while Pierson Huyck and Carson Krauss tied for third at three-under.
The Girls Championship belonged to a familiar name playing some of the best golf over the past year — Beau Ellington of Paradise Valley. The 14-year-old standout went wire-to-wire after posting the only under-par round of the tournament, a two-under opening round that gave her a lead she would not relinquish. Ellington maintained control throughout the weekend and finished at one-over par to capture her first PING Junior Masters title and third Girls Championship trophy since June 2025. Ellington’s win adds to a growing list of accomplishments for the 14-year-old, who continues to emerge as one of Arizona’s top junior players.
“We’re beyond thrilled with how this year’s Thunderbird Invitational turned out,” McNevin said. “Huge congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to The Thunderbirds and Papago Golf Club for helping us deliver another outstanding tournament.”
