The 59 Club has added a member.
Its newest is 14-year-old AJ Ramos of Tucson, Arizona, who went sub-60 last week at a Junior Golf Association of Arizona event.
Ramos shot his 59, which was a bogey-free, 11-under round, at Starfire Golf Club in Scottsdale, Arizona, at the Sam Schanafelt Summer Classic. He had three birdies and an eagle on his front nine, then six birdies – including five in a row – on the back before making par at the last.
He was playing in the boys 13-14 division and followed that up with a 72 to earn an 11-shot victory in the tournament. It’s his fourth JGAA win in 2024. His previous best this year was a 66.
It turns out Ramos shot his 59 using a borrowed driver. His mom, Paula, said that he discovered a crack in his driver the week before at the Future Masters in Alabama. When he got to Scottsdale, he borrowed a Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond, the same one Xander Schauffele used in his 2024 British Open victory, and now Ramos wants one of his own.
Paula was there in Scottsdale rooting on her son and said it was amazing to watch.
“We were just waiting for that moment when everything comes together and it was so beautiful,” she noted of his ability to play a complete game. She said that as the round went on, he kept hitting fairways and making putts but she decided not to start shooting video on her phone, admitting that she was a bit superstitious and didn’t want to jinx anything.
Ramos will enter ninth grade in a few weeks but is going to miss the start of high school for another junior tournament in San Antonio. So it goes in the life of a junior golfer.
“We’re chasing the dream with him,” said Paula.
The second annual Sam Schanafelt Summer Classic commemorates Sam Schanafelt, a JGAA member who passed away in 2022 automobile accident.
Other winners in the event were Jack Taylor of Scottsdale in the boys 15-18 championship division; Charlene Lamb of Scottsdale in the girls 15-18 championship division; Nolan Brunner of Prescott Valley in the boys 15-18 division; Isabel Helgemoe of Scottsdale in the girls 15-18 division; Addison Taylor of Scottsdale in the girls 13-14 division.