Nicholas Lyman has competed in five JGAA tournaments this season and captured two titles—most recently, the biggest and most prestigious of them all: the Arizona State Junior Championship. With this victory, Nicholas officially earns the title of Arizona’s Best Boys Junior Golfer for 2025. The win also vaulted him into 3rd place in the JGAA Player of the Year standings, solidifying his position among the state’s elite junior golfers.
Today’s Junior Golfer (TJG) caught up with Nicholas shortly after his impressive victory.
TJG: Congratulations on your big win! Over 50 of the top junior golfers in Arizona had to qualify and then battled it out over three days for the JGAA Arizona State Junior Title. How does it feel to come out on top?
Nicholas: It feels really good to get this win. This was definitely one I had circled on my schedule, and I really wanted to give it a strong run.
TJG: The temperatures were brutal—averaging over 113°F each day. How did you stay focused and manage the extreme heat throughout the tournament?
Nicholas: Yeah, it was definitely hot. But honestly, when you're playing and locked into the moment and your shot, you don’t really feel it. Even though the heat is there all day, you just know you need to keep hydrating. For me, it wasn’t a major factor.
TJG: The event was held at Paradise Valley Country Club. How did the course play, and what were the biggest challenges you faced out there?
Nicholas: The course was in great shape—greens were super fast, and the pins were really well-placed. One of the biggest challenges was dealing with mud balls. The fairways were really soft, and I felt like I had some kind of mud ball almost every time. Some were worse than others, but you’ve just got to play what you’ve got and make the best of it.
TJG: You were the only golfer in the field to shoot under par on the par 3s. What was your mindset and strategy on those holes?
Nicholas: I didn’t go in with a specific strategy for the par 3s. I just knew they were some of the toughest holes on the course. I happened to be hitting my long irons really well, so it worked out.
TJG: Looking ahead—where will you be playing golf this fall?
Nicholas: I’ll be playing my college golf at the University of Texas at Arlington.
TJG: For those who want to follow your journey, where can people find you on social media?
Nicholas: You can follow me on Instagram at @nicklyman06
