Comes from three strokes back to win by one.
Image via: AJGA
Papago Golf Course hosted a country-wide field at the AJGA Thunderbird Junior All-Star, April 7-10, with local Cave Creek resident Tyler Spielman taking top honors. He edged out Jackson Herrington of Dickson Tennessee, whose 8-under 136 for the first 36 holes tied the tournament record. Three back entering the final round, Spielman shot 66 to win by one stroke.
“This was a big win for me and this will give me so much confidence going forward in all my tournaments I have in the future,” said Spielman.
Highlights along the way: Spielman shot a 4-under 32 on the back nine in the first round, which included two birdies and an eagle-3. In his final round 66, Spielman birdied the first hole; then strung together four birdies in a row, Nos. 7-10, before closing with a birdie-bogey-birdie finish. The win marks Spielman’s first in AJGA competition, with T12, T25 and T18 finishes in his prior three tournament appearances in June-July, 2021.
In local JGAA competition, at 10 years old, Spielman won the first tournament he entered, shooting 1-under par, 34-37. In 2020, he reeled off four consecutive wins in the Boys 13-14 division, and most recently, Spielman finished fourth at the Bryce Molder Invitational, a PING Junior Masters Series tournament.
