JUNIOR PROFILES

Profile

JUNIOR GOLF

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.

Profiles

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.

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!

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 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.

“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.”

“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.”

JUNIOR GOLF

JGAA plays pivotal role in college scholarships

Alums Naumann, Schlader cite talent, depth, competition

Last fall, junior golfers around the country started signing college golf national letters of intent. More than 30 from Arizona signed, including Gilbert’s Taylor Naumann and Scott Schlader of Phoenix.

Schlader, who signed with Marquette University, joined the JGAA in 2009. With nearly 100 tournaments under his belt, he watched the JGAA grow from a player’s perspective.

“Talent and depth of Arizona junior golf is as good as it’s ever been,” he said. “Seemed like all of a sudden we started getting more kids; new names kept popping up who could put up great scores.”

In high school play, the senior at Desert Vista finished the 2019-2020 Arizona Boys High School Golf Championship (Division 1) tied for second individually at 6-under 138 (71-67).

In January, Schlader finished tied for fifth in the PING Jr. Masters Series’ Warren Schutte Invitational, in addition to a win last year at the Scottsdale Junior Championship. And at the 2019 Waste Management Phoenix Open pre-qualifier, Schlader fired a 5-under 67, good enough to advance to the Monday qualifier.

“Both high school and JGAA tournaments are really helpful from a college team aspect,” he said. “And a lot of other tournaments, like professional and top amateurs, are all individual. You have to get used to both.”

On the girls’ side of the JGAA, Taylor Naumann is set to play for Utah’s Dixie State University.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “I made a couple visits; it’s super pretty up there in Utah.”

Golf wasn’t always Naumann’s first choice. She admittedly “came late to the game,” and golf “wasn’t really in the plan” until she stopped playing basketball. Like so many, she was swept into the game by family.

“My family goes up to Pinetop over the summer, and we live on a golf course up there,” said Naumann. “The first year was the summer before my freshman year, and it wasn’t until after my junior year, that I started playing in JGAA tournaments and really focused on golf.”

She joined the JGAA in 2018, and promptly notched two second-place finishes in the Girls 15-18 division. Halfway through the following year, Naumann caught fire and posted eight top-3 finishes in her final 10 tournaments, including a win.

“I was trying to make up for time I felt I lost,” she said.

She also plays high school golf. In the 2019-2020 Arizona Girls High School Golf Championship (Division

Taylor Naumann Scott Schlader

1), Naumann finished in 28 th place individually and fourth place as a key member of the Highland High School team. Although Naumann’s high school experience played a big role, she was quick to point out the competitive edge of JGAA golf.

“JGAA is definitely more competitive, for sure, in the championship division than it was in high school. Night and day.”

Competition is important, but the rewards of playing golf go beyond trophies and scholarships. No matter where they stand on the leaderboard, all JGAA members develop the skills and lifelong friendships that educate, motivate and inspire them to become future leaders. n

RECENT ARIZONA SIGNEES:

Ethan Adam Colorado School of Mines Maisy Alsen Embry Riddle University Bailey Anderson Montana State University Araceli Barajas Benedictine University Maya Benita University of Arizona Tucker Clark University of Notre Dame Will Fraher Bethany College Rianna Garland South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Kendal Gutierrez Fort Lewis College Lucy Hansen Trinity University Milburn Ho Florida International University Jarrod Johnson Troy University Nicky Kling Grand Canyon University Andrew Knoll Siena College Madeleine Laux University of Nevada Las Vegas Riley Lewis Loyola Marymount University Ben Lorenz University of Oklahoma Tyler Macpherson Embry Riddle University Breyana Matthews Arizona State University Ashley Menne Arizona State University Zack Missigman St Mary’s College Mika Miyata University of Nebraska – Omaha Taylor Naumann Dixie State University Jaxen Pastores Mesa Community College Zack Robinson Embry Riddle University Scott Schlader Marquette University Ali Schmunk University of Hawaii Jacob Schumaker Estrella Mountain Community College Cade Seymour Northwestern Oklahoma State University Leah Skaar North Dakota State Ainsley Snyder Idaho State University Carly Strole Grand Canyon University