On a cool Spring day in 1981, the Desert Mashie Golf Club of Phoenix set out on a mission to provide its junior golfers with an opportunity to gain experience playing in a top notch event with top notch players from the city. Bill Dickey formulated the idea and James Lake, the Mashie junior golfer chairman, worked out all the details. Jim Farkas, head pro at Encanto, opened the courses (9 and 18) and invitations to young golfers went out. The word got around and on March 9-10, 1981 the event was held and it’s still going strong. On Saturday and Sunday, the 43rd Annual Desert Mashie Championship was held on Encanto 9 and 18 and Briarwood CC in Sun City where 310 golfers in five different age groups participated.
In Boys Championship Flight, 70 top tier golfers went at it for two days and after the dust cleared, Alec Hilgers of Surprise forged a lead that was unsurmountable. Hilgers opened the event with a 65 (-5) and was tied at the top with Ajay Morris of Avondale after the first 18. Hogan O’Malley of Tempe and Asher Nelson of Scottsdale were knotted in second place with 67 (-3) only two shots back. Malakai Jazayeri of Gilbert was alone in third with a 68 (-2) and five others posted 69 and were T4.
On Sunday, Hilgers opened with birdie on the par-5 first hole and never looked back. He fired a 31 (-4) on the front and closed with 32 (-3) for a 63 and a 36-hole total of 128 (-12). With a name like Hogan, one would think, this guy must have game and O’Malley proved it by posting a closing 66 (-4). He finished alone in second place with a score of 133 (-7) one shot clear of Morris who finished alone in third with a score of 134 after he posted a closing 69(-1).
In Girls Championship Flight, 30 golfers were in the field and after the opening rounds Kaitlin Helm of Litchfield Park and Mischa Wang of Scottsdale were knotted at the top with a pair of 69’s (-1). Alexis Vakasiuloa of San Tan Valley was alone in second with even par 70 and Alyssa Rigby of Vancouver, WA and Katherine Keith of Alamo, CA were locked in third with a pair of 72’s (+2).
There was some movement during the final round but not too much because the youngsters played pretty consistently. At the top, Vakasiuloa moved up to first place after posting her second consecutive even par 70 and the winning score of 140. Keith and Rigby added another pair of 72’s and both golfers posted 144(+4). The first round leader Helm had a tough go of it and stumbled home with a 75 but also finished with 144 (+4) and a three-way tie for second.
For more results of the Desert Mashie Championship visit:
Other Teebits: Because of their stellar play in the Puerto Rico Open, Joseph Bramlett and amateur Kieron van Wyk received exemptions to play in the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook CC that is owned by Black Entrepreneur, Sheila Johnson. Both golfers failed to make the grade and went home early. Bramlett posted 72-74-146 (+4) and missed the mark of 144 +2 by two and van Wyk posted 73-72-145 (+3) to miss by one.
Finally, April will be filled with a ton of special events that include golf. The Jags on the Green event is scheduled for April 12 in Mesa at Oakwood GC. Southern University Alumni Federation/AZ Chapter is the sponsor.
The Dr. Earl Bowman Annual is scheduled for April 19 at Sundance GC in Avondale. The event is hosted by The Men of Tanner. For more info contact L.C. DeMon Carey or visit the Tanner Website.
There are more that aren’t listed here but they will be happening.
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