Arizonans Tee Up For Success, On and Off the Course, with the Underrated Tour

In June, Alexis Lamadrid claimed victory at the Underrated Tour’s season opener at Old Barnwell in Aiken, S.C. With this win, the 17-year-old from Phoenix not only took home the hardware but also earned one of 24 spots (12 boys and 12 girls) in the Curry Cup—the Tour’s championship—set to take place on September 3rd and 4th at Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, N.J.

“(The win at Old Barnwell) meant an improvement in my game and another step to another level,” Lamadrid said. “I had been struggling a little bit to close out but that win means everything to me and it boosted my confidence to know that I’m capable with where my game is at right now.”

Alexis Lamadrid putts during an Underrated Tour tournament. (Photo courtesy of Underrated Tour)

Although the win at Old Barnwell and a place in the Curry Cup means a lot to Lamadrid, the impact of playing on the Underrated Tour extends well beyond her on-course successes. The Underrated Tour, founded by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, seeks to create equity, access, and opportunity for student-athletes from all communities. Its goal is to balance participation in the sport to better reflect our society and increase diversity in the game and offer student-athletes opportunities for mentorship, networking, and visibility.

Lamadrid is one of a handful of Arizonans currently playing on the Tour. She is joined by her sister Natalia, Litchfield Park’s Ashley Shaw (who won the inaugural Curry Cup) and Scottsdale’s Lena Durette. While all of them have seen success playing on other local and national circuits, the Underrated Tour’s unique offerings have teed them up for off-course success as well.

In her third and final season on the Underrated Tour, Durette has attended panels led by influential figures, including United Airlines executives, the founder of Old Barnwell Nick Schreiber, and Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson. These panels are designed to provide student-athletes with insights into all different career options, from the path of a professional athlete to showcasing how golf can be a vehicle to other professional aspirations. Those experiences inspired Durette to get a jump on making connections; she has already joined LinkedIn and started making connections.

Lena Durette hits a tee shot during an Underrated Tour event. (Photo courtesy of Underrated Tour).

They do all of this while being given the freedom to inject some personality into their game with a walk-up song that plays as they head to the first tee– Durette’s choice: D.N.A. by Kendrick Lamar. 

For Durette, what makes the Underrated Tour special is the strong bond that is fostered between student-athletes. Unlike many other competitive tours, student-athletes gather at the 18th hole to await the leaders' finish, celebrating the tournament winner with a shower of water bottles—an ode to the champagne celebrations seen in other sports.

“It’s really not like any other junior golf tour I’ve ever played in,” Durette said. “Of course we’re trying to win, but at the end of the 18th green, when we see the leaders coming in, we’re all sitting around watching them. It’s a family. We all want what’s best for each other.”