Junior Optimist Golf

2026 Arizona District Junior Golf Qualifier

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On Saturday, May 23, the Arizona District hosted the 2026 Junior Golf Qualifier at El Rio Golf Course in Tucson, Arizona. Seventy junior golfers, ages 10 to 18, came from across Arizona, with a few participants from Mexico, to compete in seven age divisions. Twenty golfers qualified for the 2026 Optimist International Junior Golf Championship at Trump International Doral in Miami, Florida. The Arizona District will cover the $750 registration fee for each first-place finisher in every age division.

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We sincerely thank our tournament sponsors for their generosity in making this event possible, especially our Tournament Sponsor, Pueblo Optimist Club, and our Chip In Sponsors: GR Financial Group in Tucson, Tucson Optimist Club, and Jim Pekny. We also appreciate our Tee Box Sponsors, listed below.

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This tournament would not have been possible without the support of Judy McDermott, Executive Director of First Tee Tucson, her team, and the many Optimist volunteers from the Pueblo, Heat, and Green Valley–Sahuarita clubs. We also extend our thanks to Esthermarie Hillman for donating the medallions for the first-, second-, and third-place golfers, Willard Adams for engraving the golfers’ names on the back, and Anne McBride for her year-round help with planning and executing the event.

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We will continue selling Junior Golf raffle tickets through the fourth-quarter meeting in September to help cover registration fees and other event expenses. Please support this effort by purchasing tickets using this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfw1KBwaIJUpK74gF16SdIjek7zr_ySQPMRuyKMwkq1dVBuPQ/viewform, or scan the QR code below. Prizes include Amazon gift cards worth $200, $150, and $50. Tickets are $5 each or three for $10.

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Tee Box Sponsors: Renate Krompasky; Heat Optimist Club; Ramon Vasquez Allstate; Goldstein AHG; East Valley Yuma County; Oasis at Rita Ranch Church; Yuma Foothills; Phoenix Club; Pueblo Club; and Rincon Club.