ARIZONA NEWS
JUNIOR GOLF Profile
Julia Herzberg At only 11 years old, her poise and maturity -- on and off the golf course -- empowers Julia Herzberg along with her entire Girls Golf family. Julia has been playing golf since she was a toddler, and golf is an important part of her life. Not only is she a leader among LPGA-USGA Girls Golf members, she is a big influence on her two younger sisters. Julia’s dad, Kyle, is a PGA professional and an Army National Guard captain currently deployed in Kuwait. Julia has taken this time to focus on her golf development.
She is energized by taking ownership and making her own on-course decisions. Julia is proud of her recent accomplishments and feels very confident on the golf course. She recently won the JGAA Phoenix Metro Championship and the Girls Golf Flounder Cup in her divisions. Julia has many other awards to show for her hard work and has been nominated multiple times at The Golden Tees, the annual awards celebration for LPGA-USGA Girls Golf. She knows that the game will be in her future and she is a local rock star who has earned the spotlight. Keep an eye out for more to come from Julia Herzberg!
Profiles
Riley Lewis Bound for Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, Riley Lewis picked up the game at a young age. “My dad took us out when I was about 5 and my brother was about 3 or 4,” he said. “Ever since, Trevor and I have be going out and playing with my dad. Then I got my license, and we’re able to hop out almost every day.” Giving Arizona’s juniors a local place to compete and catch the eyes of national college coaches lie at the heart of the JGAA. Lewis’ story is a great reminder that this model works. “The JGAA has been amazing,” said the
Leah Skaar Like so many locals, Leah Skaar and her family escape the summer heat for cooler weather. In their case, it’s a lakeside cabin in Minnesota, less than two hours from Fargo, where she will be attending North Dakota State University under a golf scholarship. “My dad went there, my grandpa was head basketball coach there, and my uncle played football there, so it’s pretty cool to continue that legacy,” she said. “Some of my dad’s cousins live there and my grandparents live near our cabin. We have lots of family in the Fargo area.” For Skaar, volleyball initially caught her fancy. www.azgolf.org
Prescott resident. “I’ve only played in one AJGA event, so for me, the JGAA has been huge in helping me find college recognition, helping me reach out to coaches, make connections with players and parents. I’m grateful for everything Mr. McNevin (JGAA director) has done. I definitely wouldn’t have been able to go to LMU without him. “When I started recruiting, honestly, I wasn’t even thinking about LMU at all, until the coach contacted me a couple months later and invited my dad and me to visit. That sold it for me. LMU became my first choice by far. Felt like it was the place I could grow my game the most. “I’m so excited right now. I can’t wait.”
“I didn’t start competitive golf until freshman year of high school. My first competitive tournament was a high school nine-hole match,” said Skaar. “Right after that, a teammate told me about JGAA, and I started playing my sophomore year. It really helped me learn the competitive side of golf. I learned about the rules, how to play in a tournament. JGAA really helped me progress fast.” The Gold Canyon resident also receives valuable advice from a handful of pals at Superstition Mountain CC. “There’s eight LPGA players up here, so that’s really helped me, too,” said Skaar. “I work out with them, and every time I play golf with them, they tell me all these important things. It’s extremely helpful.” SPRING-SUMMER 2020 | AZ GOLF Insider | 31
