Wheaton Ennis of Litchfield Park came out victorious at the 100th Arizona Amateur Championship at Phoenix Country Club, defeating Carl Miltun with a 3 & 2 win. The future Texas A&M Aggie captured the title after six days of intense competition against the state’s top amateurs, sealing his victory with impressive 30-plus foot putts on the 15th and 16th holes.
In the final match, Ennis quickly took a 1-up lead on the 143-yard second hole, sinking a four-foot birdie putt after an excellent tee shot. Miltun managed to level the match on the third hole, but Ennis’s putter then ignited, winning consecutive holes and maintaining his lead for the remainder of the match.
Ennis, who shot 65-65 in the two qualifying rounds and earned Stroke Play Medalist honors, faced a challenging path to the championship. The 18-year-old Texas A&M commit overcame Greg Cesarek, former PGA Latinoamérica player Hans Reimers, and Phoenix Country Club member Richard Hearden to reach the final match.
In the quarterfinals and semifinals, Wheaton Ennis triumphed over Grand Canyon University’s Warner Beach and two-time Arizona Amateur Champion Jake Chanen in 19-hole playoffs. Ennis attributed his success to maintaining poise and patience throughout his wire-to-wire victory, navigating a 142-player field over six days in triple-digit temperatures, which peaked at 117 degrees on Friday afternoon.
By winning the 100th Arizona Amateur Championship, Ennis earned an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota. Currently ranked fourth by the American Junior Golf Association, Ennis also received a 10-year exemption into the Arizona Amateur Championship.
“Seeing Wheaton come out on top against such a competitive field is so satisfying to see,” said JGAA Executive Director Scott McNevin. “We couldn’t be prouder of him and this truly caps off an amazing junior golf career for Wheaton as he moves forward to the collegiate level.”
