Junior Golf

39 JGAA members sign college letters

The Junior Golf Association of Arizona (JGAA) has announced that 39 JGAA members have signed National Letters of Intent this year to play collegiate golf.

“Congratulation to everyone moving on to an exciting new chapter of their lives within the game of golf,” said Scott McNevin, executive director of the JGAA. “There is no substitute for the type of hard work and dedication it takes to play at the collegiate level. And although they have no doubt grown through playing in JGAA events, the learning experience has just begun. We are honored to have played a part in preparing them for the next step.”

For more information about the JGAA, visit www.jgaa.org or call 602-944-6168.

Soon-to-be Lumberjack Alyza Flores of Vail, Arizona, will make the move to the pines of Flagstaff to play for Northern Arizona University.

JGAA member since 2014, Kohl Kuebler of Gilbert, bound for Grand Canyon University, pictured accepting the 2018 JGAA Sportsmanship and Hole in One awards.

CLASS OF 2019 SIGNEES

Allison Acosta — Chadron State College Nate Anderson — University of Washington

Chaz Aurilia — UCLA

Belle Balkan — California Baptist University

Brooke Beyer — University of Illinois Chicago

Ethan Bishop — Colorado Mesa University Breann Brennan — Utah Valley University Izzy Cantwell — Lipscomb University

Jake Carlson — Grand Canyon University Caden Christopherson — Texas Christian University

Emily Cons — University of Arizona

Davis Cottrell — South Mountain Community College

Jonathan Curran — St Mary’s College Alejandro de Zavala — Weber State Caleigh Essert — Arizona Christian University

Nicole Ewing — Rutgers University

Alyza Flores — Northern Arizona University

Joey Geary — Western New Mexico University

Jacob Goode — University of San Francisco Jordan Grasis — West Texas A&M

Lorel Hayward — Northern Arizona University

Tony Hendricks — UCLA Reyna Hernandez — Grand Canyon University Will Koepke — Seattle University

Kohl Kuebler — Grand Canyon University Kalie Llewellyn — Ottawa University

Paige Lucero — University of Nebraska — Kearney

James Mackie — California Baptist University

Alex Manalang — Lawrence Tech

Payne Moses — Oklahoma Baptist University

Mason Quagliata — Stetson University Cam Sandland — Grand Canyon University

Hayden Sayre — University of Arizona Meghan Singh — University of Idaho Hannah Spiller — Redlands Community College

Ty Sullivan — University of Nevada Las Vegas

Brooke Veres — University of Memphis Eve Worden — United State Naval Academy

Exciting week for First Tee at WMPO

The First Tee of Phoenix had some big moments during the Waste Management Phoenix Open, which ran Jan. 29-Feb. 3. First Tee celebrations took place on Tuesday, Thursday and Friday of tournament week. On Tuesday, more than 650 students from area schools participated in the First Tee of Phoenix’s annual R.S. Hoyt Jr. Dream Day. Activities included a trickshot show with Joey-O; a clinic run by local PGA Professionals and First Tee of Phoenix staff and volunteers; and a complimentary lunch. Archie Bradley of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Anthony Rizzo of the Chicago Cubs and Cameron Champ of the PGA Tour/former First Tee alumnus were among the special guests. This was the largest attended Dream Day since it became part of the PGA Tour event. Also on Tuesday, 12 the First

Tee of Phoenix participants worked with Kirk Triplett and Stan Utley on the driving range. This was a great opportunity for the juniors as they got to practice on the driving range as well as the putting green with these two long-time professional golfers from Arizona. As the juniors were leaving, they had the opportunity to get autographs from Justin Thomas, who also took part.

Also taking place on Thursday and Friday, members of the First Tee who are pursuing journalism careers got to go behind the ropes as junior course reporters. The budding media were granted access to the media room, 16th hole suites, PING’s trailer and the medical tent. The dynamic duo also visited the Thunderbirds’ tournament headquarters. Junior course reporters were treated like professionals of the industry and had the opportunity to interview the players as they finished their round. Junior course reporters also toured the Golf Channel suite on hole 16 and even got to interview Brandel Chamblee and some of his colleagues.

For more information on The First Tee of Phoenix, visit www.thefirstteephoenix.org.

PGA Tour player Cameron Champ takes time to pose with a young fan during the First Tee of Phoenix’s annual R.S. Hoyt Jr. Dream Day.