The Cameron Champ Foundation proudly hosted the inaugural Mack Champ Invitational, a 36-hole event for boys and girls ages 9-18 played March 19-21 at Memorial Park Golf Course, new home of the Houston Open.
Alexis Lamadrid of Phoenix led the JGAA pack, winning the Girls 11-12 division at +7 (73-78) thanks to a pair of birdies on the final two holes. One stroke back, Litchfield Park’s Ashley Shaw made seven birdies in the first round and one in the second to finish in second place with rounds of 72-80.
Alexis’ older sister Natalie Lamadrid shot 84-79 to earn 9th place in the Girls 13-14 division. She also finished strong, going 1-under par for the final six holes. And Lena Durette of Scottsdale finished close behind in 10th place, +20 for the tournament.
Tempe’s Jerris Baker shot rounds of 85-79—164 in the Boys 15-18 division, picking up two birdies in the final round for a T33 finish. Buckeye’s Abigale Morris went birdie-eagle on holes 2 and 3 en route to a final round 74 and T11 finish in the Girls 15-18 division.
Named in honor of Mack Champ, late grandfather of the two-time PGA TOUR winner who played college golf at Texas A&M, “the tournament focuses on identifying talented diverse players as a way to honor Mack’s legacy.” A legacy shared by many of the founders of the oldest public golf club in Arizona: Desert Mashie Golf Club. In fact, the six local players were representing the Desert Mashie Golf Club at the Mack Champ Invitational.
“The history and growth of the Desert Mashie in terms of players and importance to the local junior golf community can’t be overstated,” said Scott McNevin, Executive Director of the JGAA. “These six players were a part of bringing a piece of that legacy to the Mack Champ Invitational. We look forward to many years of participation.”
Formed by a group of Phoenix-area golf enthusiasts in 1946, the first Desert Mashie Spring Championship teed off in 1981 at Encanto Golf Course, became a JGAA-sanctioned event in 1992, and the 2021 Desert Mashie Championship wrapped up days ago.
The founding fathers of the club were Dr. Thomas A. Crump, Aubrey C. Aldridge, Earl Le Near, Earnest S. Bartlett, Dr. Lowell C. Wormley, Curtis “Dock” Earl, William Robbie” Robinson, Ray Mercado and Densil Perdue.
