Menne Outlasts Tough Field to Win Women’s Stroke Play Title at Grayhawk Golf Club – Talon

Ashley Menne took home the Women’s State Amateur Stroke Play Championship Wednesday, after rounds of 73-67-71 to finish at -5 on Grayhawk Golf Club’s Talon Course.

“The first round, everything was kind of a blur. I was just so disappointed that I was like “I have to do better tomorrow; this is not like me at all,” said Menne, 18, after the win. “The second day, I kind of just got it all together and was more focused on what was in front of me rather than daydreaming. I went out and was a little more aggressive and made some good putts and went with the flow.”

Siripatsorn Patchana turned in a final-round 1-under 71 to finish second at 1-under. Defending Champion Mikayla Fitzpatrick recorded a final-round 1-over 73 to finish third, eight shots behind Menne. Full results can be found here.

Menne, an Arizona State freshman, carded her solo round over par in her opening round. Unhappy with that effort and determined to turn things around, the Arizona State Sun Devil bounced back with a second-round 67 to steal headlines over first round leader Mikayla Fitzpatrick.

“It was a bad start but then I got it back. I got three birdies after that,” said Menne, a Surprise, Ariz., native. “Nerves got to me but I handled it.”

The four-time JGAA Player of the Year entered the final round four shots ahead of Patchana and six shots ahead of Carly Strole, Mallorie Luitwieler and Fitzpatrick. A double-bogey on the second hole dropped her lead to one after the GCU Senior Patchana recorded a birdie. But Menne recorded three birdies on the front nine to go out at 2-under 35, four shots ahead of Patchana.

The 18-year-old junior golf prodigy has an impressive golf resume. She has compiled nearly 50 titles over the past four years as a junior golfer. She is a three-time State Champion,, three-time Arizona High School Girls Golfer of the Year and three-time AJGA All-American. Next week, Menne enters her freshman season with the eight-time NCAA Champions Arizona State.

“I’m just looking forward to practicing with the team and competing as a team,” said Menne. “I definitely feel like I am going to get better by playing with better players. The facilities are great and I love the coaches.”

Lampson Dominates Back Nine in Arizona Stroke Play Championship Win at Grayhawk – Raptor

Trevor Lampson recorded four consecutive rounds under par en route to his first AGA major victory, capturing the Arizona Stroke Play Championship at Grayhawk Golf Club’s Raptor Course Sunday.

With a bogey-free 5-under 31 back nine, Lampson, 23, capped play with the lowest 9-hole score of the championship, finishing -13 overall to edge Hayes Dupree by three shots.

“I had been hitting the ball good all week, and then today I started off slow,” said Lampson, a Gilbert native, and Grand Canyon University standout. “I really had to turn it on the back 9. I got some momentum going on 10. I just kind of rolled from there. Made quite a few putts on the back to keep the flow going.”

Gabriel Salvanera turned in a 4-under 68 to finish 6-under in third. Mitchell Holmes recorded a final-round 71 to finish his last tournament as an amateur at 5-under.

Following rounds of 70-69-68, Lampson entered the final round at -9, two shots clear of Dupree and four shots clear of Holmes and Chris Kamin. That set the stage for Lampson and Dupree to go toe-to-toe the entire final round.

With an early birdie on the par-4 2nd, Dupree sat just one back of the lead. Lampson then dropped into a tie with Dupree with a bogey on 6. After the co-leaders both bogeyed the par-4 6th, Dupree recorded two consecutive birdies to emerge into his first lead through nine. Kamin, meanwhile, turned in a 3-under 33 on the front nine to trail by just three shots.

But then Lampson pushed the pedal to the metal after the turn. He opened the final nine with a deep 45-foot putt for birdie followed by another birdie on 11. Dupree’s bogey on 10 meant Lampson was back in the lead, and he wouldn’t look back.

“Dupree played really good today – especially on the back 9, he was matching all the birdies I was making,” Lampson said. “I’d make a good putt for birdie and he’d make it right on top of me.

“This victory means a lot. I’ve been playing this event for quite a while now, so it’s really nice to finally get the win.”

This marks the two-time Arizona Amateur Quarterfinalist’s first AGA victory. Lampson plans on returning to school for an extra year of eligibility due to a shortened spring season from COVID-19.

For full results click here

Jake Chanen Wins 96th Arizona Amateur Championship at Desert Forest Golf Club

143-yard pitching wedge to two feet on the 18^th hole sealed Chanen’s second Arizona Amateur

 CAREFREE, Ariz. – Jake Chanen showed the heart and determination of a champion at Desert Forest Golf Club Saturday, winning the 96^th Arizona Amateur Championship 1 up over Chris Kamin. The win is Chanen’s second career Arizona Amateur title, after winning at Tonto Verde Golf Club in 2018.

“It was awesome, that was a battle and I really enjoyed it,” Chanen said after the match. “It’s a great feeling and I’ll definitely remember this for a while.”

The 18^th hole was a microcosm of the entire match. Kamin found the middle of the fairway with his tee shot, while Chanen had to punch out from behind a tree off the right side of the fairway, and appeared to be in trouble. But with a bit of mud on his ball, Kamin’s approach sailed left of the green to the dirt cart path.

Chanen’s third shot from 143 yards out with a pitching wedge won’t soon be forgotten, finishing two feet from the cup to apply the pressure. Kamin was unable to get up and down for par, and Chanen won the match after Kamin conceded Chanen’s short par putt.

“Whatever I think I could have done or would have done differently, Jake hit a really great shot on 18,” said Kamin of his opponent’s approach on 18. “Hitting that, he deserved to win it on that hole. There’s always a part of me that says, ‘I coulda-shoulda-woulda.’ But overall it was a really good week.”

Kamin started the match 2 up after two holes, before Chanen won the next two holes to tie through four. A roller coaster of a match saw Kamin 1 up through 8, but mud on his ball in the 9^th fairway pushed it right into the cactus, forcing an unplayable an allowing Chanen to tie the match at the turn.

Kamin started the back nine much like the front, winning two of the first three holes to go up two through 12. Chanen responded by taking the 13^th hole to go down one, setting the stage for a match-changing 16^th hole.

Chanen hit driver to the middle of the fairway, then crushed a hybrid into the right greenside bunker, short-siding himself. Kamin meanwhile hit three straight irons to the middle of the green, setting up a birdie putt. But Chanen was able to get up and down from eight feet for birdie, and Kamin’s birdie putt went inches by the hole to even the match.

“That bunker shot was definitely hands-down the best of my life,” said Chanen, a recent Grand Canyon University graduate. “It was a tough lie to a super elevated green. I had nothing to work with, and I just tried to get it up there and make a putt, and I was able to do that.”

Chanen and Kamin would have 15-foot birdie putts on 17 to take the lead, but both came inches from falling, leaving the match tied and setting the stage for the epic 18^th hole.

“It hurts right now, and it will hurt for a while,” said Kamin. “But Jake played well, and as disappointed as I am for me, I am happy for him.”

Full Bracket and scores from the week of the 96^th Annual Arizona Amateur Championship can be found by clicking here. Full recaps can be found on the Arizona Golf Association website. And a wide selection of content from each day of the tournament can be found on the AGA’s social media channels: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Kamin, Chanen Survive Stiff Competition to Advance to 96th Arizona Amateur Championship

Final match set for Saturday morning at Desert Forest Golf Club in Carefree 

CAREFREE, Ariz. – Chris Kamin and Jake Chanen survived another grueling day of match play competition Friday at the 96^th Arizona Amateur Championship, played at Desert Forest Golf Club. Played in a second-consecutive 112-degree excessive heat warning at 2,600 feet of elevation, both players needed all they had in the tank to advance to Saturday morning’s Championship Match.

“I’m tired,” a visibly exhausted Kamin said after beating Cory Bacon, 4 & 3. “I mean I’m 46 years old. Most of these kids are high school or college kids. I’m a little gassed so I’m going to go home and rest. But I’m excited for tomorrow – I love playing this golf course.”

“It was a battle from start to finish – we both played pretty good all day,” said Chanen, a recent graduate of Grand Canyon University, after taking care of Canon Olkowski in 22 holes. “I’m pretty proud. I’m not going to lie, I’m very tired so I’d definitely going to get a lot of sleep tonight.”

Kamin made birdie to Bacon’s par on the opening hole, and never looked back, taking a 4 up lead through five. Bacon tried to make a run on the back nine, winning 13 and 14 to trail by three with four to play. But Kamin would splash a bunker shot on 14 into the hole for birdie to close the match.

“I’m putting well and chipping well this week,” said Kamin. “I’m hitting my irons pretty well. So far, it’s been a lot of fun. What I’ve been doing has worked so far. There’s no reason to try anything different [in the Championship Match].”

Chanen led Olkowski 1 up coming to the 18^th hole. But the Colorado University-Boulder sophomore was able to make par to Chanen’s bogey, forcing extra holes. Following a stalemate on the first three holes, Chanen was able to make par on the 22^nd hole (Hole 4), eliminating Olkowski’s bogey.

“It came down to 18 and I really gave it away and hit a really bad shot from the middle of the fairway,” said Chanen, the 2018 Arizona Amateur Champion. “But it happens, and that’s golf. We kept going, just kept battling, and finally he slipped up on the last hole there and I was able to make par and get out of there.”

In the morning’s Round of 8, Kamin needed 20 holes to get past Trevor Lampson. On the 20th hole (hole 2) and in trouble just off the left side of the fairway, Kamin used a half-swing to land a 180-yard shot just six feet from the pin. Lampson made his par putt, but Kamin drilled his birdie putt to close out the match.

Bacon only needed 14 holes to eliminate top-overall seed Joseph Lloyd, 6 and 4. Bacon raced out to a 4 up lead after birdie on the par-5 7th hole, his third hole won in a row. Bacon then closed out the match dormie on the 14th green, chipping to a foot with his third shot. Lloyd, on the green in three shots, conceded the putt, and therefore the match.

Olkowski also needed all 18 holes in his narrow 2 up victory over Matthew Braley in the Round of 8. The match was tied at the turn, but Olkowski made birdie on the par 5 11th hole, and leading by one on the par 4 18th, closed out the match in style with a par to Braley’s bogey.

Chanen’s morning match was much more of a roller coaster, falling behind Scott Schlader after losing each of the first four holes. Chanen would claw back to tie the match on the 14th hole, making eagle on the 329-yard par 4. He then closed out the match on the 18th hole, making par to Schlader’s bogey.

The Championship Match tees off at 7:00 a.m. at Desert Forest. Follow along on all of the Arizona Golf Association’s social media channels: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

Full Bracket can be found by clicking here.

Match Play Elite 8 Set at 96th Arizona Amateur Championship at Desert Forest Golf Club

Top seeds survive as field of 32 to start play Thursday is whittled down to eight

CAREFREE, Ariz. – Eight of Arizona’s top amateur golfers remain after two rounds of match play Thursday at the 96^th Arizona Amateur Championship Wednesday, played at Desert Forest Golf Club. Played in 112-degree conditions at 2,600 feet elevation, and on one of the toughest golf courses in the Grand Canyon State, it was a day of sheer survival for the 2020 Elite Eight.

“You just have to keep the ball in play off the tee, and accept that par is a great score,” said 2016 Arizona Amateur Champion Cory Bacon, who eliminated Austin Quick in the Round of 8, 1 up. “That’s really what it comes down to. If you can eliminate your blow up holes, you’re probably going to win a lot of matches out here.”

Top overall seed Joseph Lloyd, third-seeded Canon Olkowski and fourth-seeded Chris Kamin each won their respective matches 1 up in the Round of 16, needing all 18 holes to win. The mental grind of match play occupied a lot of the players’ attention as opposed to just battling the golf course.

“This course is tough enough,” said Kamin, talking about Desert Forest. “You need to have a game plan for how you want to go about each hole, and staying with that rather than worrying about what the other guys do.”

For Bacon, it was a roller coaster of a match that started early and continued through the back 9 of Desert Forest. Down one to Quick after 16 holes, Bacon birdied 17 and 18 to come from behind and advance.

“There was a lot of adrenaline flowing, and I still have some adrenaline,” said Bacon after the match. “But it was a really fun match. I didn’t think I was going to win, honestly, because I was down the whole way. But I managed to pull it out.”

Recent Grand Canyon University graduate Jake Chanen eliminated reigning AGA Player of the Year Adam Walicki in Thursday morning’s Round of 32, 2 & 1. He then beat UNLV Sophomore George Leigh in the Round of 16, 3 & 1, joining fellow GCU Lopes Trevor Lampson and Matthew Braley in Friday morning’s Round of 8.

Final Four matches will be contested afterward in the afternoon, with the last two players remaining in field squaring off in Saturday’s Championship match.

Full leaderboard can be found by clicking here.