Phoenix’s Brody Leid etched his name into Arizona golf history Saturday, capturing the 102nd Arizona Amateur Championship at Tucson Country Club with a 3 & 1 victory over Victor Larsson in the championship match.
The win marks a significant milestone for the rising University of Wyoming junior, earning him an exemption into the 126th U.S. Amateur Championship at Merion Golf Club, along with exemptions into the next 10 Arizona Amateur Championships.
“I’m super proud but it hasn’t really set in yet,” Leid said following the Championship round. “I blacked out a little bit. I was focused on playing good golf.”
Leid entered the week already playing the best golf of his young career. In May, he recorded a career-best 64 (-8) and finished runner-up at the 2026 National Golf Invitational at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes. Carrying that momentum into Tucson, the 19-year-old embraced the challenge of eight rounds of golf over six days with a goal to enjoy every moment.
“We played a lot of golf and it was fun to be out here playing a ton,” he said.
That approach paid dividends throughout the Championship. Leid stayed composed under pressure, trusted his decision-making and displayed confidence with every club in his bag.
The championship match was tightly contested early. Only one hole was won on the front nine, with Leid carding a birdie on the par-4 sixth hole for a 1-up advantage.
“That was a good turning point where I took control of the match,” Leid said. “I got off to a little bit of a slow start, my swing was feeling a little shaky but I think I found something on that sixth hole and I hit a really good iron shot.”
From there, Leid seized control. He won holes 10 and 11 to extend his lead to 3-up. A clutch putt on the 14th hole and a tee shot that landed just off the green on the par-3 17th were the final pushes he needed to secure the championship and his place in AZ GOLF history.
The victory was made even more meaningful by the presence of his family, who walked alongside him throughout the Championship match.
“We always talk about how they are more nervous for me than I am,” Leid laughed. “It was super cool to have that moment.”
Winning at Tucson Country Club added another layer of accomplishment. Widely regarded as one of Arizona’s premier championship venues, the course was a stern threat throughout the week.
Opening the tournament with 36-holes of stroke play, the course yielded 189 rounds over par; 48 of which were scores of 80 and over. Only 43 stroke play rounds were below par.
“It was a really good test,” Leid said. “It was quite long and the greens were in really good shape all week. They tucked the pins well so it was a good challenge.”
Unlike many of his competitors who grew up on the golf course, Leid spent much of his childhood focused on baseball. It wasn’t until he was 13 years old, when the COVID-19 pandemic shut down baseball season, where he turned his attention to golf.
“I really fell in love with the individual (aspect). It’s just you out there. I’ve loved it ever since,” Leid said.
Just six years later, that passion has led him to Arizona’s most prestigious amateur golf title.
As the curtain closes on the 102nd Arizona Amateur Championship, anticipation is already building for next year. AZ GOLF is excited to announce that the 103rd Arizona Amateur Championship will be hosted by The Estancia Club, where the state’s top amateur players will once again compete for the championship title.
Notable
Kristoffer Marshall was 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.