Golf: Ahwatukee Cup starts Tuesday

Skill, talent and experience may not be enough to navigate through three days of the annual Ahwatukee Cup high school golf tournament.

It's going to take a little patience too.

"This gives coaches a chance to see who can handle different scenarios," said Tony Ramseyer, coach of tourney co-host Mountain Pointe.

The Ahwatukee Cup, an annual prep season golf opener for several schools for the past 11 years, is patterned after the Ryder Cup with a best ball, scramble and alternate shot format played over three Ahwatukee courses starting Tuesday afternoon at Foothills Club West.

"Some kids strike the ball down the middle, put it on the green and two-putt over and over again," Ramseyer explained. "Now it's not that easy. Their partner might put them into a situation they're not used to by hitting the ball into the rough or behind a tree. They're going to have to decide of they're going to try to bend it around that tree or lay up and chip close to get par.

"It's definitely a different game and it helps the kids think their way around the course," Ramseyer added.

After a round through the Foothills Golf Club on Wednesday the tournament wraps up on Thursday afternoon at the Ahwatukee Golf Club.

There have been years when the Kentucky Derby didn't have as many horses coming out of the gate as the Ahwatukee Cup will have on the course for the opening day of the season.

In addition to Mountain Pointe, Desert Vista, Marcos de Niza, Mesa Red Mountain, Desert Ridge, Mesa, Gilbert Williams Field Chandler Basha, Phoenix Arcadia defending champion Corona del Sol will be looking to put their school name on the traveling trophy that hasn't stayed in the Ahwatukee Foothills since Mountain Pointe win it in 2000.

"It's a fun tournament and something that gets the kids going into the season," Ramseyer said. "Our booster club has done a tremendous job of getting prizes. You want to win, but it's a fun event too."

This will also be an opportunity for Ramseyer to see how his supporting players back up senior Colton Tuttle and veteran junior Conrad Isley. In addition to Tuttle and Isley, the Pride have one junior, five sophomores and two freshmen looks for spots on the roster.

"Colton and Conrad obviously have experience from last year," Ramseyer said. "But (juniors) Chris Felix and Mike Anderson have been playing all summer and continue to be among our top players. Ben Potter (a sophomore) grew about five inches over the summer and is really coming in strong and Ryan Spring (a junior) is finding his swing."

Among the biggest changes for the newcomers who play junior tournament golf, Ramseyer said, is switching from the individual to the team concept.

"Now," Ramseyer explained, "your teammates are counting on you and you can't afford to miss that two-foot putt that can win a tournament."