The JGAA announced the 2015 Sportsmanship Awards and Player of the Year across five age divisions at the annual awards banquet held October 18 at ASU Karsten Golf Course. 

“This is always one of the most rewarding evenings of the year,” said Scott McNevin, Executive Director of the JGAA. “And, although a handful of players actually earn the award, many others put in the time and effort to win. All of this year’s award winners are not only talented players on the golf course, but truly display the characteristics off the course, as well.”   

Sportsmanship Award

Boys Championship:  Briggs Duce – Sierra Vista, AZ

Girls Championship:  Sara Padilla – Scottsdale, AZ

Boys 15-18:  Jack Geurtz – Scottsdale, AZ

Girls 15-18:  Madison Voisard – Scottsdale, AZ

Boys 13-14:  Harry Su – Scottsdale, AZ

Girls 13-14:  Alyzzah Vakasiuola – San Tan Valley, AZ

Boys 11-12:  Cameron Kaiser – Scottsdale, AZ

Girls 11-12:  Drucelle Pedrosa – Goodyear, AZ

Boys 10-Under:  Charlie Palmer – Phoenix, AZ

Girls 10-Under:  Isabelle Junio – Goodyear, AZ

Player of the Year Award

Boys Championship:  Brian Seo – Peoria, AZ

Girls Championship:  Jenny Bae – Chandler, AZ

Boys 15-18:  Tom Katsenes – Scottsdale, AZ

Girls 15-18:  Anne Transier – Prescott Valley, AZ

Boys 13-14:  John Menne – Surprise, AZ

Girls 13-14:  Ashley Menne – Surprise, AZ

Boys 11-12:  Noah Nuez – Phoenix, AZ

Girls 11-12:  Bailee Tayles – Scottsdale, AZ

Boys 10-Under:  Nicklas Nuez – Laveen, AZ

Girls 10-Under:  Abbey Schutte – Phoenix, AZ

Player Highlights – Player of the Year Award 

Boys Championship Division – Brian Seo

Seo notched 8 top-10 finishes, including three victories, in the 11 events he entered. His wins came at the Phoenix Metro Jr. Championship, Arizona Junior Match Play Championship and PING Arizona Junior Masters. 

Girls Championship Division – Jenny Bae

Bae made the top 10 in all 13 events she played, earning four victories along the way at Spring Stableford, Thunderbird Junior Classic, Mesa City Junior Championship and Junior Masters Series at Camelback. 

Boys 15-18 Division – Tom Katsenes

Katsenes earned nine top-10 finishes in 15 events played with six wins at Desert Mashie Spring Championship, Antigua Milt Coggins AZ Junior Stroke Play, Thunderbird Junior Classic, PING Arizona Junior Masters, Tempe City Jr. Championship and Chandler City Junior Championship. 

Girls 15-18 Division – Anne Transier

Transier notched nine top 10s in 12 events entered with three wins coming at the Spring Stableford, Yuma City Junior Championship and Chandler City Junior Championship. 

Boys 13-14 Division – John Menne

Menne placed in the top 10 in 16 of the 21 tournaments played. He also won eight times at New Year’s Shootout, Spring Stableford, Tucson Conquistadores Spring Classic, Yuma City Junior Championship, Tucson City Jr Championship-Tucson Conquistadores, Antigua Milt Coggins AZ Junior Stroke Play, Thunderbird Junior Classic and Prescott City Junior Championship. 

Girls 13-14 Division – Ashley Menne

Menne put on a dominating performance in 2015 making 19 of 21 top 10s and a staggering 15 victories. And in the tournaments she didn’t break into the top 10, she finished T11 and 12. Her victories came at the Phoenix Metro Jr. Championship, Desert Mashie Spring Championship, Spring Stableford, Tucson Conquistadores Spring Classic, Yuma City Junior Championship, Tucson City Jr Championship-Tucson Conquistadores, Antigua Milt Coggins AZ Junior Stroke Play, Thunderbird Junior Classic, Junior World Qualifier #1, Mesa City Junior Championship, Phoenix City Junior Championship, PING Arizona Junior Masters, Tempe City Jr. Championship, Scottsdale Junior Championship and Chandler City Junior Championship. At one point during the season, she racked up six-consecutive victories. 

Boys 11-12 Division – Noah Nuez 

Nuez made the top 10 in all but one of the 17 tournaments he played notching six wins along the way at New Year’s Shootout, Desert Mashie Spring Championship, Spring Stableford, Tucson Conquistadores Spring Classic, Prescott City Junior Championship and Antigua Junior Tour Championship.

Girls 11-12 Division – Bailee Tayles

Tayles made the top 10 in all 17 tournaments played with six victories, including a stretch of four in a row. Her wins came at Phoenix Metro Jr. Championship, Thunderbird Junior Classic, Phoenix City Junior Championship, Prescott City Junior Championship, PING Arizona Junior Masters and Tempe City Jr. Championship. 

Boys 10 & Under Division – Nicklas Nuez

Nuez placed in the top 10 in all 15 tournaments entered with five wins at the Desert Mashie Spring Championship, Tucson Conquistadores Spring Classic, Prescott City Junior Championship, PING Arizona Junior Masters and Scottsdale Junior Championship. 

Girls 10 & Under – Abbey Schutte

Schutte place in the top 5 in all 9 tournaments played with seven wins at New Year’s Shootout, Antigua Milt Coggins AZ Junior Stroke Play, Thunderbird Junior Classic, Junior World Qualifier #1, Phoenix City Junior Championship, PING Arizona Junior Masters and Tempe City Jr. Championship.