WM Phoenix Open

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. – The [geoswitch][geoswitch_case country_code=”US” state_code=”AZ”]Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by Ak-Chin Indian Community[/geoswitch_case][geoswitch_case]Waste Management Phoenix Open[/geoswitch_case][/geoswitch], in partnership with the LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup and the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, announce the relaunch of the Go Green Go Often ticket promotion in time for Father’s Day.

For $50 individuals can purchase a single day pass to each of the professional golf tournaments in the Valley – the WM Phoenix Open, the Charles Schwab Cup Championship and the LPGA Bank of Hope Founders Cup. Limited tickets will be sold. Notable golfers participating may include Bernhard Langer, Rickie Fowler and Anna Nordqvist.

“This is a one-of-a-kind offer that allows golf fans to attend three world-class tournaments, all here in the Valley of the Sun,” said WM Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman Carlos Sugich. “With Father’s Day right around the corner, this is an excellent opportunity to find that perfect gift at such a great price.”[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]WHO:             

• Waste Management Phoenix Open, Bank of Hope Founders Cup and Charles Schwab Cup Championship

WHAT:

• One single day admission ticket to three professional golf tournaments

WHEN:

• Charles Schwab Cup Championship: Wednesday, November 8 – November 12, 2017
• Waste Management Phoenix Open: Monday, January 29 – February 4, 2018
• Bank of Hope Founders Cup: Tuesday, March 13 – March 18, 2018

WHERE:

• Charles Schwab Cup Championship: Phoenix Country Club; 2901 N 7^th St Phoenix, AZ 85014
• Waste Management Phoenix Open: TPC Scottsdale Stadium Course; 17020 North Hayden Road Scottsdale, AZ 85255
• Bank of Hope Founders Cup: Wildfire Golf Club at JW Marriot Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa; 5350 Marriott Drive Phoenix, AZ 85054

For more information or to purchase tickets CLICK HERE or call (386) 236-1369.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The 2018 [geoswitch][geoswitch_case country_code=”US” state_code=”AZ”]Waste Management Phoenix Open Presented by Ak-Chin Indian Community[/geoswitch_case][geoswitch_case]Waste Management Phoenix Open[/geoswitch_case][/geoswitch] will be held at TPC Scottsdale January 29 – February 4, 2018. “The People’s Open” is the best-attended golf tournament in the world and has gained legendary status for being the most unique stop on the PGA TOUR. The 2017 tournament broke four attendance records, including a PGA TOUR record 655,434 fans for the week. The 2018 edition will mark the 83^rd playing of the event (one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR) and the ninth as the Waste Management Phoenix Open.

The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 with the mission of promoting the Valley of the Sun through sports. The Thunderbirds consist of 55 “active” members and more than 250 “life” members. In 2016 The Thunderbirds raised a record $9.3 million for charity and have eclipsed $111 million in charitable giving since its inception in 1932.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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Bergeron Blitzes the Back Nine; Steady Play Wins the Day for Abdulghany

Slidell, Louisiana’s Jacob Bergeron edged out Noah Norton of Chico, California by one stroke to take top honors at the 2017 Thunderbird International Junior contested for the 18^th year at Grayhawk Golf Club during Memorial Day weekend.

Bergeron Goes Birdie-Eagle to Win

In his second AJGA Invitational win, Bergeron dominated the back nine by firing two, 5-under-par 31s in the second and final rounds highlighted by a clutch birdie-eagle finish on the final two holes to end up at 15-under-par 201 (72-65-64). Second place finisher, Noah Norton, made a final-round push of his own, going 2-under par on the way in (71-66-65—202, -14).

“The Thunderbird International Junior might be the hardest tournament to win because the field is so stacked,” Bergeron said. “I knew I had a tall task to win leading into this week, but I never thought of it as winning. It was more going in and seeing where I could improve.”[/vc_column_text][mk_gallery images=”23475,23479,23478,23481,23480,23477,23476″ disable_title=”true”][vc_column_text]

Sensational 64s

Third-place finisher Canon Claycomb of Bowling Green, Kentucky shared tournament-low-round distinctions with Bergeron – both shot 8-under 64s. Claycomb made his in the second round, posting a clean card adorned with eight birdies, while Bergeron made six birdies in the final round leading up to his tournament-deciding, 20-foot eagle putt at the last.

It Was All About Abdulghany

Alyaa Abdulghany of Newport Beach, California entered the field for the third time with a near-miss, second-place finish the year before, no doubt, still fresh in her mind. Abdulghany once again found herself in second place after round one, but this time she didn’t stay long. After round two, she traded places with first-round leader Rachel Heck of Memphis, Tennessee. Heck (68-73-69—210, -6) mounted a strong final-round charge with at 3-under 69 before ultimately finishing two strokes shy of Abdulghany (69-69-70—208, -8).

“I really wanted to get my first Invitational win before college,” said Abdulghany. “I wouldn’t have been too sad if I had lost because Rachel played amazing and I did as best as I could. To win and finally say I won my first AJGA Invitational was a great experience.”

Emilia Migliaccio of Cary, North Carolina, took third at 5-under-par 211.

View complete final standings

Incredible Support, Outstanding Event

Launched through a partnership between the Phil and Amy Mickelson Charitable Fund and The Thunderbirds – the civic-minded organization that runs the Waste Management Phoenix Open – by design, the tournament bearing their name has grown into one of the most prestigious junior golf tournaments. Add support by Under Armour®, one of golf’s hottest brands, and the event has transformed into one of the most competitive worldwide.

Local Coverage by 3TV/CBS 5

A special thank you goes out to the 3TV/CBS 5 sports team for covering the event.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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2017 Thunderbird International Junior Tees off Memorial Day Weekend

More than 20 years ago, Phil Mickelson challenged The Thunderbirds to host the ultimate junior golf tournament. So they did! It’s called the Thunderbird International Junior, and it has featured the best junior golfers in the world since teeing off on the AJGA calendar in 2000.

Event Origins

Co-Tournament Chairman, Mike Kennedy, shared the unique story of the event’s beginning. Click the video below to watch![/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/zwuA59C8SY0″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]As Kennedy mentioned, the tournament has grown into one of the most competitive junior golf events in the world. In fact, the collaboration between The Thunderbirds and the Phil and Amy Mickelson Foundation has been so successful, he now competes against many of its past participants.

Past Participants

Ryan Moore, Kevin Na, Brian Harman, Webb Simpson, Patrick Reed, Rickie Fowler, Ryo Ishikawa, Hunter Mahan, and Jordan Spieth top the list. Same goes for the girls. Paula Creamer, Inbee Park, Alison Lee, Lexi Thompson, Belen Mozo, Jessica Wallace and Brittany Lang also made the cut at the professional level.

Who will be the next to join this list?!

Talent-Filled Field

Twin brothers Parker and Pierceson Coody have a strong golf pedigree — their grandpa is Charles Coody, 1971 Masters Champion. Sean Maruyama is also from a golf family. His father, Shigeki Maruyama, racked up three wins on the PGA TOUR and nine internationally.[/vc_column_text][mk_gallery images=”23458,23457,23456,23455,23454,23453,23452,23451,23450″ disable_title=”true” order=”DESC”][vc_column_text]Recently, Thai phenom Paphangkorn Tavatanakit gave it a go at an LPGA Major, the ANA Inspiration, but missed the cut by two. She’s currently ranked No. 1 on the AJGA Rankings (as of 5/9/17).

North Carolina’s Emilia Migliaccio is the second-highest-ranked girl in the field and No. 3 overall in the AJGA Rankings, while Rachel Heck from Tennessee sits one spot behind Migliaccio (T4). Alyaa Abdulghany, the Southern California sensation from Newport Beach, sits in the 8th spot overall in the Girls AJGA Rankings.

Khavish Varadan, Malaysian native by way of Florida, is the highest-ranked player on the boys side in the field. Among his accomplishments, he captured AJGA’s The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by TaylorMade-adidas Golf at TPC Sawgrass last year.

Another likely contender, Michael Sanders, truly exemplifies the special tenets associated with the game of golf. In fact, he earned the AJGA’s 2016 Jerry Cole Sportsmanship Award Winner. His story is chronicled in this video.

A Junior Golf Tradition Like No Other

No matter who wins the 2017 Thunderbird International Junior, all of the competitors will walk away with an enriching experience. An experience that prepares them for the next challenge; an experience that ties together borders and cultures with the common thread of golf; an experience that can best be described as a junior golf tradition like no other.

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