Arizona teen golfers gather for Maricopa Junior Championship

Alan Quezada of Phoenix finished the first round in a three-way tie for first place at 1-over 73 before following up with a blistering 6-under-par 66 to win by six strokes (5-under par) in the Boys Championship division at the Maricopa Junior Championship held Aug. 1-2 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club. Ethan Klose (75-70) of Phoenix and Brayden Bozak (74-71) of Gilbert finished tied for second place at 1-over-par 145.

Ashley Menne of Surprise also shot 5-under par for the tournament with rounds of 69 and 70 to finish in first place in the Girls Championship division. Talia Gutman of Scottsdale shot 4-over-par 148 (77-71) to come in second place, and Kailani Deedon of Mesa shot rounds of 77 and 72 to finish in third place at 5-over-par 149.
Zachary Frye of Buckeye won in the Boys 15-18 Division at 8-over-par 152 (78-74). Carlos Astiazaran of Tucson won the Boys 13-14 Division at 1-under par (72-71—143). Oliver Uribe of Scottsdale shot even-par (35-37–72) to win the Boys 11-12 Division.

Julie Huggins of Anthem won in the Girls 15-18 division at 15-over par (81-78—159). Kate Hauptman of Scottsdale won the Girls 13-14 division at 11-over par (72-83—155). Natalia Lamadrid of Phoenix won in the Girls 11-12 division at 4-over-par 76 (38-38). And Ashley Shaw of Litchfield Park won in the Girls 10 and Under division at even-par 72 (37-35).

The Junior Golf Association of Arizona hosted the event. JGAA is a nonprofit that develops programs for local schools, assists golf courses with their junior programs, conducts college prep seminars and etiquette clinics.