YAGJF summer tournaments come to close with low scores

The Yuma Area Junior Golf Foundation offered a little something extra for four of its players Wednesday at Desert Hills following the final tournament of the summer.
 
YAJGF director Richie Valenzuela handed out Most Improved Player awards to Dawson Cox and Kayla Fiser, a Sportsmanship Award to LeAnn Domitrovits, and Kody Fiser was voted by his peers as the Player of the Year.
 
But more important than the awards ceremony – even in the eyes of the award winners – was just another chance to play golf amongst good friends and good competition.
 
“I didn’t know we were going to do it, but it’s cool,” Kody said of the POY honor.
 
Fiser and the rest of Yuma's top junior golfers will have to wait until later this week to learn if they qualified for the Antigua Tour state championships in Prescott. Golfers amassed points from their play in South West PGA junior tournaments, which also finished its summer circuit this week.
 
Domitrovits, 12, said the junior tournaments are a chance for her to get off the driving range and test her focus during competition. After eight holes of bogeys and double bogeys, she nearly birdied the ninth hole when her 10-foot putt just lipped out.
 
“I learned a lot this year about course management,” she said. “Now that I’m into the game more this could be a way to get a scholarship, so I’ll be playing again next year.”
 
One of her playing partners today was Amber Owens, who said she appreciates the chance to be out on the course with other girls before high school golf pick up again. Owens had the low score of the four older girls on Wednesday, shooting a 44.
 
“I play with my dad every Saturday and we practice every day after his work, but it’s more fun playing with these girls,” said Owens, a Cibola High student. “I used to not care. I’d just hit it and walk, but now I’ve played bigger and harder courses around the state so I want to get better.”
 
Joey Pickels plays plenty of competitive golf throughout the year outside of Yuma, and said the YAJGF events are a perfect practice venue for him.
 
“I have more fun now on the golf course than I used to because when I play with Collin (Catron) and Grady (Bourguignon) it's a relaxed atmosphere, and that helps when I play in national tournaments," he said.
 
Pickels countered four bogeys with four birdies Wednesday for an even-par 36, a score that looked like it might win until Catron holed out from ninth fairway for eagle to shoot a 1-under 35.
 
Other winners were Cox, who beat Kody Fiser by three shots with a 43 in the boys 11-12 division, Zach Estes (54) in the boys 13-14 division and Lauren Metcalf (43) in the 10-under division.
 
Valenzuela said he was pleased with the quality of golf being played and happy to see a few new faces out this summer. He hopes to organize a YAJGF tournament during the winter months, but is still searching for the funds to do so.
 
"We had a lot of people helping this year, which I was grateful for," Valenzuela said. "I feel like it's an obligation to provide something for the kids because I was given that opportunity, so I want to make sure they get the same opportunities."