The American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) held the Jim Click Automotive/HSL Properties Championship this week at the Tucson Country Club. The three rounds of play started on Tuesday and Oregon State commit Rylan Johnson set a new 54-hole tournament record with a 22-under-par 194 (65-65-64).
Johnson took second place in the AIA Division II state final this past fall playing for Williams Field to Ironwood Ridge standout Brasen Briones 138 to 141 but this week belonged to Johnson. Johnson started the final round in a tie with Ziqin Zhou of China, with both teeing off 14-under through 36 holes, but Johnson put together nine birdies to distance himself from the field and he held off University of Arizona commit Zachery Pollo (Rocklin, CA) by five strokes for the win (199: 66-68-65).
Logan Kim of La Canada Flintridge, California took third with a 15-under 201 (72-63-66) and Zhou took fourth (205: 63-67-75). Salpointe senior Carlos Astiazaran (207: 67-70-70) tied for fifth place with Michael Riebe of Encinitas (207: 70-69-68).
Alice Ziyi Zhao of China (Irvine, CA) shot a 17-under 199 (64-66-69) to hold off Martina Yu of Canada by seven strokes (206: 66-68-72). Zhao also set a new 54-hole record this week. Kaila Elsayegh of Pacific Palisades took third (211: 73-71-67) and Ironwood Ridge senior Zoe Newell took fourth (213: 69-72-72).
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Named one of “Arizona’s Heart & Sol” by KOLD and Casino del Sol, Andy Morales was recognized by the AIA as the top high school reporter in 2014, he was awarded the Ray McNally Award in 2017 and a 2019 AZ Education News recognition. He was a youth, high school and college coach for over 30 years. He was the first in Arizona to write about high school beach volleyball and high school girls wrestling and his unique perspective can only be found here and on AZPreps365.com. Andy is a Southern Arizona voting member of the Ed Doherty Award, recognizing the top football player in Arizona, and he was named a Local Hero by the Tucson Weekly for 2016. Andy was named an Honorary Flowing Wells Caballero in 2019, became a member of the Sunnyside Los Mezquites Cross Country Hall of Fame in 2021 and he was a member of the Amphi COVID-19 Blue Ribbon Committee. He earned a Distinguished Service Award from Amphitheater and he was recognized by City Councilman Richard Fimbres. Contact Andy Morales at amoralesmytucson@yahoo.com
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