Smooth Like Butter: Ethan Butters ties Tucson CC Course Record At 102nd Arizona Amateur

At 17 years old, Ethan Butters has proven he is one of Arizona's brightest young golf talents.

The future Arizona State University golfer delivered a remarkable performance Tuesday at Tucson Country Club, carding an 11-under-par 61 to tie the course record and claim Stroke Play Medalist honors after two rounds of the 102nd Arizona Amateur Championship.

RESULTS | PHOTOS

Standing over a birdie putt on the final hole with a chance to tie the record, Butters remained poised while going through his routine.

“Obviously there was a little more pressure given the circumstances, so I just took a deep breath before I hit the putt,” Butters said. “I relaxed my shoulders, got the tension out of my body and then I just tried to put the best roll that I could possibly put on it.”

The putt dropped, and just like that Butters had etched his name alongside the most impressive scoring marks in Tucson Country Club history.

Butters was unaware of the course record, but realized he was in for something special on his 12th hole of the round when he sunk a 20-foot birdie putt to get to 8-under.

“From that point on, I just tried to be as aggressive as possible. I really just tried to hit the best shots I possibly could,” he said.

His aggressive approach paid off on a course which stretched 200 yards farther than the opening round, from 7,374 to 7,533. Many competitors struggled, but Butters thrived.

Part of his success may come from an unlikely source.

In addition to being one of Arizona's top junior golfers, Butters is also an accomplished volleyball player. He credits the sport for helping build strength in his legs, generating more distance off the tee.Though, it was Butters' short game that led to so much success. His playing partner, Nate Jetter, was astonished by the consistency in Butters' approach shots and long putts.

“If he hits it to 25 feet, (the putt) is going in,” Jetter said. “He doesn't hit it to 25 feet very often, it's mostly two or three feet.”

Golfers in other groups took notice as well, identifying Butters as a serious challenge as the championship transitions into match play Wednesday morning.

“Making the cut is all that matters unless you're number 64 and have to go up against Ethan Butters,” Trey Moore joked, moments before Butters rolled in his 11th and final birdie of the day.

Yet despite posting one of the lowest rounds in championship history, Butters isn't allowing himself to get caught up in the accomplishment. His strategy won’t change.

“It feels really good to shoot a round that low,” he said. “But it resets tomorrow, so I'm just going to have to grind it out the same way I tried to today. I just have to play well and I know I can win. I just want to stick to my processes and have fun out there. It's golf, it's a lot of fun.”

Butters finished 22 strokes better than the cut at +7, and played four strokes ahead of Scottsdale’s Kale Waaso who managed rounds of 66 and 67 for the No. 2 seed. He concluded Tuesday’s round with a four-hole birdie streak.

"In the middle of the round I made a bogey on 10 and 11, very unforced bogeys, and I wasn't rattled but wanted to make sure I closed the round well," Waaso said. "It’s nice when you get the last four. Played the last seven holes well, so that was huge.”

The Arizona Amateur continues Wednesday morning at 7 a.m. with round of 64 matches beginning off the No. 1 tee while the playoff of 11 golfers competing for seven spots begins concurrently on the No. 18 tee.

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). 

• The oldest competitor in this year's field is 62-year-old Brian Light.
• The youngest competitor in the field is 14-year-old Nolan Wilson.
• There are 21 competitors who have the City of Tucson listed as their hometown. Five of which are members of Tucson Country Club — Jim Anderson, Wesley Bass, Finn Meister, Brian Prouty and Eric Rustand.
• Players had an easy start off the first hole on Monday, with a 4.59 scoring average on the par 5.
• The hardest hole on the course was the par-3 17th, 217 yards long and a scoring average of 3.53.

Quotable

• "A week like this, its daunting if you look at it in totality of it, especially for an older guy like me, but really it was trying to put two rounds back to back that were solid. And seeding, it's not irrelevant, but doesnt matter as much when you're playing with a bunch of young kids, so you gotta show up ready to play." - Kale Waaso after securing the No. 2 seed in the round of 64 match play.
• "I thought it was very cool to be able to compete at the next level. I always enjoy being the youngest, it kind of motivates me." - Nolan Wilson, on competing in his first Arizona Amateur Championship at 14 years old. Wilson advanced to match play.

• "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)

• "That course was playing hard. The pins were gnarly today." - Jake Walden, following his round one 75 (+3)
• “I made some long putts today. I don’t expect them to fall all week, but I just need to keep momentum up and see the ball roll where I’m aiming.” - Carson Little, 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.