Grant Gudgel (Saguaro Amateur Series Photo)
Grant Gudgel of Stillwater, Okla., shot 9-under over 54 holes to win the 2025 Saguaro Amateur at Talking Stick Golf Course.
Gudgel, an Oklahoma State freshman dealing with a wrist injury, opened the tournament with a 7-under par 63 and went wire-to-wire to secure a four-shot win over Davis Johnson of Scottsdale. Gudgel carded rounds of 63-67-71 to get to 9-under overall.
Gudgel came into Wednesday’s final round in a tie for first with Scott Roden of Austin, Tex., who shot 76 and finished in third place. Davis Johnson of Scottsdale, Ariz., shot a final round even-par 70 to finish alone in second place.
“You know, just very grateful to be here," Gudgel said. "You guys run such a great event and especially to have it at a course like Talking Stick in Arizona. It’s perfect weather all week, but today was a bit windy. It was one of the windiest days I’ve played in a while, so it was great to come out on top. You know, the whole week, I kind of got off to hot starts pretty quick, which is nice. Getting off to hot starts are nice…birdies to be made if you get on the fairway, but it is so key to get in it off the tee."
He added, "I never really was comfortable. I feel like I had a four-shot lead with some to play, and I knew the guys behind me were right on my tail, and I knew they were going to make some birdies, so very grateful to come out on top.”
Scott Roden finished in solo third place this week, but it was enough to win the 2024-25 Troon Saguaro Amateur Series Player of the Year in a very close race with Ethan Korock.
Talking Stick, the O’odham Course, hosted the Saguaro Amateur for the first time after all 11 previous events were held at the Saguaro Amateur's birthplace, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes in Maricopa.
The Troon Saguaro Amateur Series, founded in 2017, is a world-ranked amateur tournament series that is hosting ten tournaments in the 2024-25 season. This is the 12th year of the Saguaro Amateur, the original event (and championship event) of the Series.
The 2025-26 Series year will begin in May with the Palo Verde Amateur.
The Troon Saguaro Amateur Series contributed to this report
ABOUT THE
Saguaro Amateur
54-hole event with field comprised of 108
men’s amateur golfers from all over the United
States. Most players are college golfers on winter
break. All players must have completed high school
by January 1 and must have a handicap of 3.0 or
lower. The host club, Ak-Chin Southern Dunes, has
hosted the Arizona Amateur three times as well as
U.S.
Open and PGA Tour qualifying.
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