The 102nd Arizona Amateur Championship is officially underway, marking the ninth time the state's premier amateur event has been contested at Tucson Country Club.
The championship was last played at the historic venue in 2007, and after the first round of stroke play, several Tucson-area players have already positioned themselves near the top of the leaderboard.
The last Tucson player to capture the Arizona Amateur title was Alex McMahon in 2014 at Desert Highlands. With 21 competitors from the City of Tucson in this year's field, several of which are members of the University of Arizona men's golf team, the hometown crowd has plenty of players to rally behind as the championship progresses.
For University of Arizona junior Tianyi Xiong, having the championship at the Wildcats' home course provides a unique advantage. Originally from Shenzhen, China, Xiong is pursuing a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and relishes the opportunity to compete on home grass.
"It's definitely great to have the tournament here," Xiong said. "It's convenient for me to just drive here and warm up at our facility. It feels just like playing at home, very chill and easy. It's a great course. We all love this course. We play here almost every day and the greens are really good right now. They made them faster and I love them."
Another player embracing his Tucson experience is incoming University of Arizona freshman Hogan O'Malley. Though not a Tucson resident, O'Malley felt right at home Monday, carding a first-round 70 (-2). His round remained bogey-free until the 18th hole.
"I got down here Saturday morning, and I've spent the last two days practicing with the guys, and hanging out with them which is cool," O'Malley said. "One of the guys who just graduated, Zach Pollo, was nice enough to let me stay with him, and I've just been hanging out with him which is awesome. I got to play golf with him, which is a great experience with me coming in as a freshman."
Tucson native Chase Cesarek also delivered an impressive opening round, posting a 69 (-3). The 18-year-old recently graduated from high school and will continue his golf career at Utah Tech University this fall. Making the week even more memorable, Cesarek is competing alongside both his father, Grant, and his uncle, Greg.
"I've lived in Tucson my entire life, born and raised," Cesarek said. "It was pretty cool to go to sleep in my own bed for once which is a different feeling than a usual tournament. The greens were pretty soft so a lot of shots into the green hold. I drove it well, hit some good irons and made a few putts which is fun."
Though solid across the board for Tucson residents, Monday’s round was owned by Scottsdale resident Kale Waaso. His seven birdies helped him reach a first-round-lead 66 (-6).
The low round of the second wave belonged to Carson Little, who fired a 5-under-par 67 in his second Arizona Amateur appearance. Little's round was highlighted by six birdies and an eagle on the par-5 13th hole, where he knocked a 6-iron approach to 15 feet before sinking the putt.
"I'm thrilled with the number today but you can't win the Amateur on day one," Little said. "I'm just trying to get myself into good position in stroke play as we head into match play."
The second round of stroke play continues Tuesday morning with the first wave starting at 7 a.m. and wave two at noon. The top-64 golfers will advance to Wednesday’s match play. Ties for the final qualifying spot(s) will result in a hole-by-hole playoff to be held Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m. Match play will follow.
Follow along throughout the week and stay up-to-date with all things Arizona Amateur by following us on Instagram: @azgolfassociation.
Notable
Kristoffer Marshall is the lone golfer in the 130 player field to have won an Arizona Amateur Championship in the past. (97th Arizona Amateur at Grayhawk Golf Club's Talon Course in 2021).
Quotable
"To get this Kachina, that would be the pinnacle of my golf career. I don’t take a whole lot more pressure than any other tournament, but I’m playing well and I always putt pretty decent. The thing is, I’m 43 and toward the end of the week I don’t know how I’m going to hold up." - Kurt Watkins, following his round one 67 (-5)
About Tucson Country Club
Established in 1947, Tucson Country Club has been a cornerstone of golf and community in Southern Arizona for nearly eight decades. Originally designed by renowned architect Billy Bell, the course underwent a renovation in 2023 led by architect Mike Gogel. The redesign introduced new tee boxes, expanded green surrounds, and added approximately 500–600 yards to the championship tees.
Unlike the desert-style layouts commonly found in Arizona, Tucson Country Club offers a classic parkland-style experience, featuring tree-lined fairways, subtle green complexes, and a welcoming, flat layout.
Throughout its history, Tucson Country Club has hosted some of the game’s most prestigious amateur competitions, including 19 USGA Championship Qualifiers and nine Arizona Amateur Championships. The club is also closely associated with the legendary Dr. Ed Updegraff, one of the finest amateur golfers to come out of Tucson, who won 27 club championships, as well as four Arizona Amateur Championships, and is honored through the naming of the club’s back-tee markers.
Key holes include the demanding 217-yard par-3 17th, the scenic water-lined 2nd, and the risk-reward par-4s at 14 and 15 which showcase the course’s strategic character. Since 2022, Tucson Country Club has served as the home course for the University of Arizona golf programs, further strengthening its role in the future of golf in Arizona.
About AZ GOLF
Founded in 1923, AZ GOLF is a nonprofit dedicated to serving and advancing the game of golf in Arizona. We engage our community through championships and tournaments, player development, education, and outreach while providing official USGA Handicap Indexes to golfers statewide. With more than 550 member clubs and golfers of all ages and abilities, we are committed to fostering a welcoming, inclusive golf community and ensuring the game’s long-term growth and sustainability.