For the fourth consecutive year, the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA) hosted the Sam Schanafelt Summer Classic in Scottsdale at Talking Stick Golf Club and Kierland Golf Club, July 14-15, 2026. The event commemorates Sam Schanafelt, a fellow JGAA member who tragically lost his life in a 2022 automobile accident. It was only fitting to honor Sam’s memory at Kierland Golf Club, the course where he worked and was beloved over the years
The Boys Championship division delivered the storyline of the week at Kierland. A cluster of low scores stacked atop the leaderboard after day one, setting up an eventful final round — and nobody made more of the opportunity than 14-year-old Nolan Wilson of Litchfield Park. The West Valley native fired the low round of the week and one of the lowest scores recorded on the JGAA season, on an epic roll rattling off seven birdies on the back nine en route to a 29. Wilson shut the door at 11-under for the tournament, turning a four-shot first-round deficit into a three-shot win with a final-round 9-under 63. It’s his first win in the Boys Championship division — and back-to-back at this event, after winning the Boys 13-14 title in the same event a year ago. Wade Van Kirk of Phoenix finished second at 8-under, with Nash Yogurtian of Gilbert third at 7-under.
In the Girls Championship division, also at Kierland, Ariela Trejo of Tucson and Malone Wall of Scottsdale went head-to-head down the stretch. Wall surged in the final round to draw even with Trejo after regulation, forcing a sudden-death playoff. Wall prevailed in her own backyard to capture the Championship title — her first win of the season. Addison Taylor of Scottsdale and Cynthia Lang of Chandler tied for third at 4-over. Taylor’s round included a hole-in-one on the 17th (147 yards, 6-hybrid).
Queen Creek’s Tyce Thompson used a 4-under final round to win the Boys 15-18 division by two strokes at 1-over — the first JGAA title of his career. In the Girls 15-18 division, Minzi Kim of Phoenix posted the tournament’s only under-par round, closing at 4-under (73-67) to win by 15 strokes.
In the Boys 13-14 division at Talking Stick – Piipaash, Chance Ashcraft of Scottsdale went wire-to-wire, winning by four strokes at 1-over (73-70). And in the Girls 13-14 division, Amy Xuan of Chandler cruised to an 18-shot win at 2-under — her third victory of the 2026 season.
“The JGAA proudly honors Sam’s legacy each year through the Sam Schanafelt Summer Classic,” said Scott McNevin, Executive Director of the JGAA. “This tournament isn’t just about recognizing Sam’s talent on the golf course — it’s a celebration of the kind, driven, and truly special young man he was. His impact on our community continues to be felt, and this event serves as a meaningful tribute to both his game and his character.”
The Summer Classic is more than a competition — it’s a tribute to Sam Schanafelt and the values he embodied: sportsmanship, kindness, and love for the game. The JGAA is proud to support Swing Fore Sam, a non-profit organization committed to creating more opportunities for junior athletes to grow, compete, and chase their goals.
