Brophy Rodeo, presented by PING

Scottsdale Grayhawk Golf Club Raptor/Talon Courses: August 22-23

 

Catalina Foothills senior Chase Cesarek needed an eagle on the 18th hole to win the Brophy Rodeo last year and it took a birdie on the first playoff hole to win the prestigious tournament again on Saturday at the Grayhawk Golf Club (Raptor Course) located in Scottsdale. Cesarek shot an 8-under-par on Saturday 64 to rebound from a 73 on Friday to catch Notre Dame senior standout Landon Ashcraft (137: 67-70).

Cesarek recorded a double-bogey on the 18th hole on Friday but he was almost flawless on Saturday with an eagle on the seventh hole and back-to-back birdies on the 17th and the 18th to force a playoff on the 18th with Ashcraft. Ashcraft is the two-time AIA Division II state champion and, more recently, the Texas A&M commit brought home individual accolades at the 53rd Junior America’s Cup in July whole leading Team Arizona to victory.

Cesarek committed to D-I Utah Tech two weeks ago and he helped lead the Falcons to a runner-up finish to Notre Dame last year at the D-II state tournament. Ashcraft helped lead Notre Dame to a 565-580 win over D-I Brophy at the Brophy Rodeo, an incredible 11-under team performance by the Saints. Brophy is the AIA D-I defending champion.

Teams from Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Nevada, Utah, Oklahoma, Hawaii and Texas took part in the Brophy Rodeo.

The girls competed on the Talon Course on Friday and Saturday and Casteel senior Julia Herzberg beat Alexa Takai of Hawaii in another playoff battle where the Clemson commit came out on top with an 8-under 136 (69-67) thanks to two eagles and a birdie on the 18th hole in regulation on Saturday to match the birdie Takai (136: 71-65) recorded on the 18th.

Herzberg took second place last year at the Brophy Rodeo and she helped lead Casteel to an AIA D-II team championship in 2023. Takai helped lead Punahou to a team championship at the Brophy Rodeo with the team from Hawaii recording a 5-under 571. Xavier shot 585 to come in second and Casteel scored a 589 to take third.