Glendale resident, Eric Ghim, topped Jake Chanen with a birdie on the first playoff hole to capture the Boys title at the 2015 Thunderbird Invitational, contested at Papago Golf Course March 7-8. Ghim carded eight birdies during the two-day event on his way to a 72-69–141 winning score. Set to graduate from Sandra Day O’Connor High School in 2016, Ghim adds his latest victory to a host of achievements. He won the 2014 Mesa City Junior and Tucson City Junior; was runner-up in the Phoenix City Junior; finished 3rd in the Arizona Junior State Championship; and tied for 3rd place individually in the AZ High School State Championship in 2014.

In the Girls Division, Xavier College Prep student, Alisa Snyder, also in the class of 2016, slammed the door on Tucson resident, Sydney Colwill, with a final-round 65 that included seven birdies and no bogies. With the 65, Snyder set a new competitive course record for ladies at Papago Golf Course. Her 74-65–139 for the event was good enough to secure a five-stroke victory. Snyder notches a first-place finish early in the 2015 season after a handful of near misses last year.

The Junior Golf Association of Arizona is a 501(c)(3) organization with the mission to educate, motivate and inspire Arizona’s youth through golf and all of the valuable lessons and life skills inherent to the game.