Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes in Arizona flips the switch on night golf with #miniDunes

Lights, camera, action.

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MARICOPA, Ariz. — Lights, camera, action.

Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club, located about 45 minutes south of Phoenix, is the latest facility in Arizona to offer night golf. with its newly lit #miniDunes course.

With a celebrity lineup of former NBA standout Eddie Johnson, former NFL linebacker Seth Joyner, former NFL kicker Jay Feely, former Major League Baseball pitcher Archie Bradley and trick shot artist Tanya Tare, Southern Dunes flipped the switch on its six-hole loop, which also serves as the driving range during the daylight hours.

The short course, featuring holes measuring from 60 to 115 yards, opened in 2014 but there’s now 13 poles with Musco stadium lights illuminating the night. Tee times can be booked as late as 10 p.m. with unlimited play options available.

The 18-hole course at Ak-Chin, designed by Brian Curley and Fred Couples and opened in 2002 and is became a part of the Ak-Chin Indian Community in 2010. It is ranked No. 14 on on Golfweek’s Best top casino golf courses in the U.S. and sixth best public-access layout in Arizona.

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Golfweek to host inaugural National Golf Invitational in May 2023 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Arizona

Think of the National Golf Invitational (NGI) like college basketball’s NIT.

A new national championship is coming to the college golf schedule next spring.

Golfweek will host the inaugural National Golf Invitational in May 2023 at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club in Maricopa, Arizona, just south of Phoenix.

The NCAA announced in May it would allow schools to play in one season-ending event, so think of the NGI like college basketball’s NIT. The NGI will feature a men’s and women’s competition, each with a maximum of 18 teams playing 54 holes of stroke play. Women will play first, May 11-14, with the men the following week, May 18-21.

The field will be invitational-only as decided by a committee using both the Golfweek/Sagarin and Golfstat rankings along with a committee decision on teams that have a strong regular season.

“Ak-Chin Southern Dunes is excited to carry on our proud tradition of hosting high level championship events as the host site for the men’s and women’s National Golf Invitational,” said Southern Dunes General Manager Brady Wilson. “Certainly, the popularity of golf in the Valley of Sun and the growing exposure of college golf make for perfect timing to have a second National Championship event so that more college programs and student athletes are able to play into the post-season.”

Golfweek’s Lance Ringler will serve as the tournament director.

“This is something I have talked about for many years and am extremely excited to make this a reality. Many coaches over that time have expressed a want and a need for a second postseason event like we see in other sports and the sport is ready to support another postseason tournament,” said Ringler. “With the NCAA now allowing teams to play in one postseason event, teams that don’t find a path to the NCAA regional play can now look at what we are doing as an option.”

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2022 Golfweek South West Junior: Anawin Pikulthong three-peats; Honorine Nobuta Ferry takes home title

Anawin Pikulthong and Honorine Nobuta Ferry won their divisions at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club.

MARICOPA, Ariz. — Two invites to the Golfweek International Junior Invitational were up for grabs as both boys and girls teed it up at the Golfweek South West Junior on Sunday at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club.

Heading into Sunday’s final round on the girls’ side it was Jennifer Seo and Honorine Nobuta Ferry who paced the field. Both at 3 under, it was Ferry who out lasted Seo in the 18 hole dual.

Ferry used three back nine birdies to propel herself to the win despite giving up nearly six years of experience to Seo.

Tied with Seo after bogeying two of her last three holes on the 14th tee, Ferry and Seo traded birdies before Ferry made an eight foot birdie putt on the par 5 16th to take a one shot lead.

Carding pars on Nos. 17 and 18, Ferry clinched the title despite being given “multiple heart attacks” by Seo.

With the win, the 12-year old from West Palm Beach, Florida, earned eight American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) performance stars as well as a coveted spot in November’s series finale, the Golfweek International Junior Invitational.

The win could also kick start what Ferry hopes to be a Hall of Fame worthy golf career. We could be hearing plenty more of Ferry as her goal is to turn pro and win at least 5 majors before it’s all said and done.

Seo, Julia Herzberg (2 under), Natrada Pongsasin, and Raegan Capizzi (1 over) round out the top five.

ASU-commit wins boys division

On the boys’ side it was once again Anawin Pikulthong who took home the title.

Trailing by seven heading into the final round, Pikulthong, who plays for Hamilton High School in nearby Chandler, Arizona, and has committed to play college golf for the hometown Arizona State Sun Devils, relied on his previous experiences and some luck to close the gap.

“I didn’t play too well in the first round, but I found something on the range (last) night,” Pikulthong told Golfweek. “This morning came and I tested it out… I hit a couple of good shots in the first few holes and from then on I started to blend confidence and make some putts.”

Out in 3 under, Pikulthong kept that score until he eagled back-to-back par 4s. The par-4 14th was drivable for some in the field this week. Driving the green, Pikulthong nailed his eagle putt to move to 5 under. On the 430-yard par- 4 15th, Pikulthong holed out from 186 yards to make another jump towards his three-peat.

Bookmarking the deuces with birdies, Pikulthong went from 3 under to 8 under in a blink of an eye.

Closing it out with pars on 17 and 18, Pikulthong vaulted himself from fourth to first for his third straight victory in this event.

Finishing second is Alec Barker. His 4-under total would have been plenty clear of the field had it not been for Pikulthong’s back-nine heroics.

Rounding out the top five is 18 hole leader Ryan ‘O.T.’ Sefrioui (even par), Lyman Brackett (1 over), and Austin Plunkett (6 over).

Both Pikulthong and Ferry will be exempt into the season ending Golfweek International Junior Invitational in November. The next Golfweek junior event is the 2022 Golfweek New England Junior Open, July 13-14 at Ledgemont Country Club in Seekonk, Massachusetts.

If interested, sign your junior up here.

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