Led by golfers from Brophy and Perry high schools, Team Arizona won the 54th Annual Junior America’s Cup tournament held July 28-30 in Carlsbad, California.
It was the second straight win in the tournament for Arizona's team.
Brophy seniors Evan Tyree, Asher Nelson, and junior Hank Miller, paired with senior Ethan Butters of Perry, shot a combined 19-under par for the three-day event, winning by seven strokes over the team from Southern California.
The San Diego Junior Golf Association hosted this year's event.
The Junior America’s Cup features 18 teams of four boys representing their state, province, or country. The competition takes place over three days, with 18 holes played each day for a total of 54 holes. Each team counts its best three scores
each round.
Among individual scores, Nelson tied for second at nine-under par after shooting 70-70-67 for a 207 three-day total.
Miller tied for 13th overall at even par 216, with rounds of 71-65-80. Butters also tied for 13th, with rounds of 69-71-76.
Tyree led Arizona on the first day with a 68 and finished tied for 17th, at one-over 217, shooting 68-76-73 over three rounds.
“I feel like we did a really good job of ham and egging it,” Nelson said. "We all had a good round when we needed it. I feel like playing with and for your buddies and for your coaches is an extra bit of motivation.”
Nelson, who has committed to play golf next year at Oklahoma State, was a large part of Brophy’s successful state championship run last season that helped make the Broncos the No. 1-ranked team in the nation according to the PGA National High School Golf Association.
“There’s a little bit of added pressure,” Nelson said of the tournament. "You just don’t want to let down anyone at home, and there’s more pressure because we won this tournament last year, so I felt like we had some people staring us down a little more.”
Brophy is the two-time defending boys state golf champion. Nelson is confident that Brophy’s performance at the Junior America’s Cup will be a sign of things to come this season for his team.
“Playing in this cup, with that team aspect, is a hint of what the season will look like,” Nelson said.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona golfers repeat as Junior America’s Cup Title champs
