By Thomas Cosentino
Even with a limited schedule, Lucas Rizo-Patron of Rye, N.Y. made every start count in 2025. The 18-year-old playing out of Pelham Country Club played in just three events – but three top-11 finishes, highlighted by a victory at the Carter Cup, earned him the title of MGA Junior Player of the Year, Presented by Callaway.
Rizo-Patron’s season began with a breakout performance at the 103rd Westchester Open Championship Presented by Poland Spring at The Tuxedo Club in Tuxedo Park, N.Y., in June. Facing a field with both professionals and amateurs, he finished tied for second at 5-under par (73-65-70), just two shots behind champion Mike Miller. His second-round 65 was one of the best rounds of the championship and helped him earn co-low amateur honors.
A few weeks later, he had another strong showing at the 70th Ike MGA Stroke Play Championship at Hamilton Farm Golf Club in Gladstone, N.J., where he posted rounds of 73-70-71 to finish tied for 11th at 2-over par on one of the Met Area’s toughest layouts.
His defining moment came at the 23rd Carter Cup at Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J. In his first appearance in the invitational, Rizo-Patron navigated Baltusrol’s newly restored Upper and Lower courses. He opened with a 2-under 69 on the Lower, making three birdies on the front nine before shooting even-par on the back nine to put himself in contention heading into the final round on the Upper.
The boys’ title came down to the par-4 18th. Rizo-Patron hit his approach over the green, but after executing a delicate chip, he rolled in a 20-footer for par to secure the win at 1-under par (69-73, 142), one shot clear of playing partners Rayhao Feng and Tucker Gongaware.
The victory marked the first MGA title of his junior career and capped a remarkable summer of golf.
After closing the chapter on his junior career, Rizo-Patron joins an accomplished list of past honorees who have gone on to success in collegiate golf. Rizo-Patron has made a strong start to his collegiate career at the University of Richmond. He has competed in five fall events, where he notched a pair of top-15 finishes, highlighted by a T-11 in mid-October at the Bash in the Boro at Georgia Southern University Golf Course in Statesboro, Ga., where he finished 4-under-par.
The MGA will recognize Rizo-Patron, alongside the MGA’s Men’s and Women’s Players of the Year, at its Awards Celebration at Westchester Country Club on December 3.