Hosted July 28 to August 1, The Utah Golf Association hosts the 45th Annual Junior America’s Cup at Soldier Hollow Golf Club, in Midway Utah. The 2024 Girls Junior America’s Cup tees off on Soldier Hollow’s Silver course. Team Arizona will be competing against an elite international field representing Alberta and British Columbia, Canada, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Mexico, Montana, New Mexico, Northern California, Southern California, Northern Nevada, Southern Nevada, Oregon, San Diego, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
This year’s Arizona Girls team is stacked with top JGAA competitors, including Alexis Vakasiuola, Kaitlyn Helm, Alexis Lamadrid, and Lena Durette.
“All the girls are excited to represent Arizona golf and the JGAA,” said Scott McNevin, Executive Director of the Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA). “We hope to get out there and play our best to hopefully come back home with some hardware.”
Alexis Vakasiuola of San Tan Valley goes into this year’s event to kick off her senior year. In the 2023 season Vakasiuola recorded five first place finishes. In addition, to this season, Vakasiuola walks into the Junior Americas Cup with three first place finishes. Notable mentions Including, Bryce Molder Invitational, USGA Girls Jr Qualifier, and the Thunderbird Junior Classic.
Kaitlyn Helm of Litchfield Park comes off two first place finishes from the 2023 season including wins at the Desert Mashie Championship and the Sam Schanafelt Summer Classic. So far this season, Helm has one win under her belt at the State Junior Golf Championship.
Alexis Lamadrid of Phoenix brings her A game to the Arizona Junior America’s Cup team. In the 2023 season, Lamadrid clutched two wins including the Betsy King IMG Academy Jr World Qualifier and the JGAA winter classic. For the 2024 season, Lamadrid has one win under her belt from the PING Jr Masters. Lamadrid also secured her first AJGA win at the Huntsville Junior this summer.
Lena Durette of Scottsdale competes in this year’s Junior America’s Cup before she heads off to college for fall semester. Durette has been a top contender in the JGAA for years. Just in the 2023 season, Durette has two top five finishes including the Warren Schutte Invitational and the Bryce Molder Invitational. As for the 2024 season, Durette has one win under her belt from the Thunderbird Invitational.
JUNIOR AMERICA’S CUP LIVE SCORING
About The Junior America’s Cup:
The Junior America’s Cup first started in 1959 as matches between Mexico, Alberta and the Southern California Junior Golf Associations with each association hosting the event every three years. Since 2001, the competition annually brings together an elite international field of 18, four-player teams featuring the top boys and girls representing 12 Western states, two Canadian provinces and Mexico.
