For the second consecutive year, the Arizona boys’ team won the Junior America’s Cup, finishing at -19 for the tournament. They topped second-place finisher Southern California (-12) by seven strokes and third-place Mexico (-8) by 11 strokes. Hosted this year by the San Diego Junior Golf Association, the 54th annual team competition was contested July 28-30 in San Diego, California, at Omni La Costa Resort’s South Course. Prior to the 2026 and 2025 wins, Team Arizona’s only other victory came in 1992.
“We’re extremely proud of our Arizona team, winning back-to-back against an elite field and tough competition here at La Costa,” said Arizona Team Captain and Executive Director of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona Scott McNevin. “We’re so excited to bring the trophy back to Arizona, and we hope to defend again in 2027.”
Individually, Scottsdale’s Asher Nelson led the team with a T2 finish at -9 (70-70-67), five strokes off the pace set by medalist Brayden Forte of Aurora, Colorado.
“It means a lot to win the Junior America’s Cup for the second consecutive year,” said Nelson, a Brophy Prep senior who is committed play college golf at Oklahoma State University. “And I’m excited to hopefully get a try next year too.”
All four members of Team Arizona finished in the top 20. Placing T13, Chandler’s Ethan Butters, Perry High School senior bound for Arizona State University, finished at even par (69-71-76). Also at T13, Phoenix’s Hank Miller, Brophy Prep junior, finished at even par (71-65-80). And at T17, Scottsdale’s Evan Tyree, Brophy Prep senior committed to Texas A&M, shot +1 (68-76-73).
These all-star caliber standouts have proven their championship status on the JGAA and amateur circuit. Asher Nelson is fresh off his first AJGA victory this month at the AJGA Junior at Colgate and claimed a PING Junior Masters Series championship at the Scottsdale Charros Invitational back in February. Earlier this summer, Ethan Butters carded an 11-under-par 61 to tie the course record at Tucson Country Club and claimed Stroke Play Medalist honors after two rounds of the 102nd Arizona Amateur Championship. He also recently won the Scottsdale Invitational at Grayhawk Golf Club, a PING Junior Masters Series event, after outlasting his opponent in a playoff on Raptor 18. Evan Tyree was the 2025 JGAA Player of the Year and competed in the U.S. Junior Amateur. Hank Miller won the PING Junior Masters Series event, the Warren Schutte Invitational, to kick off what’s been a consistent campaign of top 10s.
