About Me
I am a sophomore at Downingtown West High School in Downingtown, PA and a highly competitive junior golfer. I started playing golf at age 3 and my first tournament was just before I turned 6. With the help of my family, I travel all over the country to play tournaments and when I am not playing I devote a number of hours to improve my game. I appreciate all of the support I receive from my parents, brother, sister, coach, mentor, teachers, and friends. My goal is to play top-level Division I college golf and eventually turn professional.
Career Highlights
Champion of the 2021 AJGA Junior All-Star Invitational at Pronghorn
Champion of the 2021 AJGA Junior All-Star Invitational at Pronghorn
Champion of the 2021 AJGA Junior All-Star Invitational at Pronghorn
Shot 72-69-68 (-7) at the Pronghorn Resort (Nicklaus Signature Course) in Bend, OR to win by two shots in a field of 39 of the top 16 & under boys based on the AJGA Rolex Rankings. The win was keyed by an 8-under par 12-hole stretch overlapping rounds 1 & 2.
2021 Beth Daniel Junior Azalea Champion
Champion of the 2021 AJGA Junior All-Star Invitational at Pronghorn
Champion of the 2021 AJGA Junior All-Star Invitational at Pronghorn
Shot rounds of 62-67-64 (-20) to win by nine shots at the Country Club of Charleston in Charleston, SC. Broke the existing tournament scoring record by six shots. The first round 62 (-9) tied the competitive course record on the classic Seth Raynor designed course.
2021 AJGA Rolex Junior All-America Team Honorable Mention
Champion of the 2021 AJGA Junior All-Star Invitational at Pronghorn
Winner of Back-to-Back AJGA Junior All-Star Events in August 2020
Was one of only two boys in the (sophomore) Class of 2024 to earn All-America status. Honorable Mention recognizes the top 24 players in the country outside of the First Team (12 boys) and Second Team (12 boys) awardees.
Winner of Back-to-Back AJGA Junior All-Star Events in August 2020
Winner of Back-to-Back AJGA Junior All-Star Events in August 2020
Winner of Back-to-Back AJGA Junior All-Star Events in August 2020
Won the AJGA Junior All-Star at York, PA by five shots with rounds of 67-65-68 (-16), then won again the following week by seven shots at the AJGA Junior All-Star at Toftrees in State College, PA with scores of 66-71-70 (-9). The opening round 66 set a new competitive course record.
2020 Hope Valley Junior Invitational Champion
Winner of Back-to-Back AJGA Junior All-Star Events in August 2020
2019 & 2020 US Kids Golf Teen World Champion (Boys 12 & Boys 13)
Shot rounds of 69-67-71 (-3) to win by one shot in an elite field of 74 players at the historic Donald Ross designed Hope Valley CC in Durham, NC.
2019 & 2020 US Kids Golf Teen World Champion (Boys 12 & Boys 13)
Winner of Back-to-Back AJGA Junior All-Star Events in August 2020
2019 & 2020 US Kids Golf Teen World Champion (Boys 12 & Boys 13)
Won as a 12-year old in 2019 at Pinehurst No. 8 in Pinehurst, NC with rounds of 69-72-68 (-7) to win by five strokes, then repeated as champion a year later as a 13-year old at Mid Pines in Southern Pines, NC with scores of 70-66-70 (-10) to win by a shot.
2020 Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Champion (Boys 13 & Under)
2020 Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Champion (Boys 13 & Under)
2020 Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Champion (Boys 13 & Under)
Beat a field of thirty qualifiers from across the country with rounds of 69-65-64 (-18) for an impressive 13 shot victory at Koasati Pines at Coushatta Resort in Kinder, LA. In doing so, became the first National Champion in the Boys 13 & under division and was featured in the event coverage on Golf Channel.
2019 Donald Ross Junior Champion (Boys 12-14)
2020 Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Champion (Boys 13 & Under)
2020 Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Champion (Boys 13 & Under)
Won Donald Ross Junior Championship Boys 12-14 division by four shots at Pinehurst No. 8 in Pinehurst, NC in a field of 84 players, with scores of 72-70 (-2).
28 Tournament Wins in Multi-Day National, Regional, & State Events
2020 Notah Begay III Junior Golf National Champion (Boys 13 & Under)
28 Tournament Wins in Multi-Day National, Regional, & State Events
Won 28 times including three American Junior Golf Association (AJGA) events, nine US Kids Golf (USKG) events, seven Hurricane Junior Golf Tour (HJGT) events, and three Tarheel Junior Golf Tour (TJGT) events. In 127 events overall, has displayed remarkable consistency with 53 Top 3, 67 Top 5, and 86 Top 10 finishes.
Member of 2020 Evian Juniors Cup Team
Member of 2021 AJGA Junior All-Star Team
28 Tournament Wins in Multi-Day National, Regional, & State Events
Selected as one of four junior golfers (two boys and two girls) ages 14 & under to represent Team USA at the Evian Juniors Cup in Évian-les-Bains, France. Unfortunately, the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Member of 2021 AJGA Junior All-Star Team
Member of 2021 AJGA Junior All-Star Team
Member of 2021 AJGA Junior All-Star Team
Recognized as one of the twenty best junior golfers (ten boys and ten girls) ages 15 & under according to the AJGA Rolex Rankings as of August 31, 2021.
HIGH SCHOOL GOLF Highlights (DOWNINGTOWN WEST HS)
(SO) PIAA AAA Individual State Champion & District Runner-Up
(SO) PIAA AAA Individual State Champion & District Runner-Up
(SO) PIAA AAA Individual State Champion & District Runner-Up
As a sophomore, became the first Downingtown West golfer (and first from Chester County in 18 years) to win the individual state title with a par on the second playoff hole after a round of 69 (-2). Overcame a four shot deficit with six holes to play by closing strong with clutch birdies on 15 and 17. Finished 2nd in the District One tournament, losing in a playoff after rounds of 70-70 (-4).
(SO) Ches-Mont League Individual Champion
(SO) PIAA AAA Individual State Champion & District Runner-Up
(SO) PIAA AAA Individual State Champion & District Runner-Up
As a sophomore, defended his Ches-Mont League Boys Individual title with a score of 66 (-6) to win by five shots.
(SO) Daily Local News High School Player of the Year
(SO) PIAA AAA Individual State Champion & District Runner-Up
(FR) PIAA District One AAA Individual Champion & State 3rd Place Finisher
Recognized as the 2021 high school player of the year for the Chester County regional area by the Daily Local News of West Chester, PA, earning this honor for the second straight year.
(FR) PIAA District One AAA Individual Champion & State 3rd Place Finisher
(FR) PIAA District One AAA Individual Champion & State 3rd Place Finisher
(FR) PIAA District One AAA Individual Champion & State 3rd Place Finisher
As a freshman, won the PIAA District One AAA individual title by two shots with a score of 69-71 (-4), then finished 3rd in the state individual AAA championship with a score of 69 (-2). At the time, it was the highest ever state finish for a Downingtown West golfer and the highest by a Pennsylvania freshman in 21 years.
(FR) Ches-Mont League Individual Champion
(FR) PIAA District One AAA Individual Champion & State 3rd Place Finisher
(FR) Daily Local News High School Player of the Year
As a freshman, won the Ches-Mont League Boys Individual title with a score of 68 (-4) to win by four shots.
(FR) Daily Local News High School Player of the Year
(FR) PIAA District One AAA Individual Champion & State 3rd Place Finisher
(FR) Daily Local News High School Player of the Year
Recognized as the 2020 high school player of the year for the Chester County regional area by the Daily Local News of West Chester, PA.
EARLY Career Highlights
2018 Drive Chip and Putt National Finalist (Boys 10-11)
Six Top Ten Finishes at US Kids Golf World/Teen World Championships
Six Top Ten Finishes at US Kids Golf World/Teen World Championships
Finished third overall at Augusta National after qualifying from the Winged Foot Regional. Won the putting competition at the National Finals after holing one putt on the famous 18th green and leaving the other putt only 13 inches away.
Six Top Ten Finishes at US Kids Golf World/Teen World Championships
Six Top Ten Finishes at US Kids Golf World/Teen World Championships
Six Top Ten Finishes at US Kids Golf World/Teen World Championships
Finished in the top ten six times at the US Kids World/Teen World Championships in eight years. In addition to winning as a 12 and 13 year old, finished tied for 5th (age 7), tied for 6th (age 9), tied for 7th (age 11), and tied for 9th (age 10).
2018-19 Tarheel Junior Golf Tour Middle School Player of the Year
Six Top Ten Finishes at US Kids Golf World/Teen World Championships
2018-19 Tarheel Junior Golf Tour Middle School Player of the Year
Won Player of the Year honors after winning three times in six starts and maintaining a 71.8 scoring average for the season.
2017-18 Philly Junior Tour 12 & Under Player of the Year
2017-18 Philly Junior Tour 12 & Under Player of the Year
2018-19 Tarheel Junior Golf Tour Middle School Player of the Year
Won Player of the Year honors after winning 21 times in 26 starts and maintaining a 38.04 scoring average for the season, the second lowest in tour history.
8-Time US Kids Local Tour Champion
2017-18 Philly Junior Tour 12 & Under Player of the Year
8-Time US Kids Local Tour Champion
Won eight different US Kids local tours beginning with the Philadelphia North Summer 2012 Tour and ending with the Philadelphia Fall 2017 Tour.
84 Local Wins
2017-18 Philly Junior Tour 12 & Under Player of the Year
8-Time US Kids Local Tour Champion
Won 84 times in 132 single-day local tournament starts including 46 US Kids Local Tour wins, 34 Philly Junior Tour wins, and 4 Lehigh Valley Junior Tour wins.
YEAR BY YEAR SUMMARIES
2021-22 (Sophomore) (Age 15)
2021-22 (Sophomore) (Age 15)
2021-22 (Sophomore) (Age 15)
2020-21 (Freshman) (Age 14)
2021-22 (Sophomore) (Age 15)
2021-22 (Sophomore) (Age 15)
2019-20 (8th Grade) (Age 13)
2021-22 (Sophomore) (Age 15)
2019-20 (8th Grade) (Age 13)
2018-19 (7th Grade) (Age 12)
2018-19 (7th Grade) (Age 12)
2019-20 (8th Grade) (Age 13)
2017-18 (6th Grade) (Age 11)
2018-19 (7th Grade) (Age 12)
2017-18 (6th Grade) (Age 11)
2016-17 (5th Grade) (Age 10)
2018-19 (7th Grade) (Age 12)
2017-18 (6th Grade) (Age 11)
2015-16 (4th Grade) (Age 9)
2015-16 (4th Grade) (Age 9)
2015-16 (4th Grade) (Age 9)
2014-15 (3rd Grade) (Age 8)
2015-16 (4th Grade) (Age 9)
2015-16 (4th Grade) (Age 9)
2013-14 (2nd Grade) (Age 7)
2015-16 (4th Grade) (Age 9)
2013-14 (2nd Grade) (Age 7)
2012-13 (1st Grade) (Age 6)
2011-12 (Kindergarten) (Age 5)
2013-14 (2nd Grade) (Age 7)
2011-12 (Kindergarten) (Age 5)
2011-12 (Kindergarten) (Age 5)
2011-12 (Kindergarten) (Age 5)
My Team
John Dunigan, Coach
Charlie Lanzetta, Advisor and Mentor
Charlie Lanzetta, Advisor and Mentor
John has served as Nicholas' coach since 2018. John is a Golf Digest Top 50 Teacher and GOLF Magazine Top 100 Teacher based at Applebrook Country Club in Malvern, PA. He is a four time PGA Philadelphia Section Teacher of the Year.
https://www.johndunigangolf.com
(484) 288-9931
Charlie Lanzetta, Advisor and Mentor
Charlie Lanzetta, Advisor and Mentor
Charlie Lanzetta, Advisor and Mentor
Charlie has acted as a mentor and advisor to Nicholas since 2017, when they met through US Kids Golf. Charlie serves as the Head Rules Official for US Kids Golf, working all of its major events. He is a veteran rules official who has worked over seventy professional major championships including ten Ryder Cups. Charlie is a member of the New England PGA Hall of Fame.
Joe Chaitkin, Fitness Consultant
Charlie Lanzetta, Advisor and Mentor
Joe Chaitkin, Fitness Consultant
Joe has acted as a fitness consultant for Nicholas since early 2020. As a Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) certified instructor, Joe provides Nicholas with a customized age-appropriate and golf specific fitness programs directed toward developing stability, flexibility, balance, and strength. Joe has an MS in Exercise Physiology and over 15 years experience working with clients in Chester and Delaware Counties.