Ben Warian takes Saguaro Amateur at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club

January 8, 2023 | by Jim Young of AmateurGolf.com

Ben Warian

University of Minnesota junior goes on a playoff birdie run to claim the title at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club

With temperatures peaking in the high 60s at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club just outside of Phoenix, Minnesota natives Ben Warian and Nate Stevens must have felt like they were playing in a heat wave all week at the Saguaro Amateur.

Just for fun, Warian, a junior at the University of Minnesota, decided to crank up the heat a little higher on Sunday, as he birdied all three playoff holes to claim the title over his fellow Minnesotan.

Warian and Stevens, a freshman at Notre Dame who hails from Northfield, Minn., tied at 10-under for the 54-hole event. After the players matched birdies on the first two playoff holes, Warian rolled in his third consecutive birdie put to cement the biggest win of his amateur career.

“Patience was the key today and all week," said Warian, who is from Stillwater, Minn. "I played very solid golf the first day, and definitely faced some adversity these last couple days. I just kept telling myself to stay patient and keep giving myself opportunities. Today, I was able to make some putts at crucial moments which allowed me to come away with the W, which feels amazing.

"This wins means the world to me. It’s been a long-time coming and countless hours of hard work and grinding over the past few years have finally paid off. I can’t wait to bring this trophy home to the Minnesota Gopher Golf family and enjoy this with them. A very special week!”

Warian and Stevens were the beneficiaries of Nate Cogswell's misfortunes on the final hole. The University of Seattle golfer took a one-stroke lead to the last but a wayward drive led to a double bogey, ending Cogswell's title hopes.

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Riley Bell, who finished eighth, claimed 2022-23 Troon Saguaro Amateur Series Player of the Year honors. The Sacramento State player outdistanced Gabe Salvanera of Arizona State by 39.5 points in the points race. Bell had three eighth-place finishes (Saguaro, Sizzler, and Grapevine Ams) and to go along with a third-place finish (Agave Am) this season.

Results: Saguaro Amateur

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Ben Warian	Stillwater, MN	400	66-71-69=206
2	Nate Stevens	Northfield, MN	300	69-71-66=206
T3	Gavin Hagstrom	Fort Collins, CO	200	71-69-67=207
T3	Trey Davis	Olivehurst, CA	200	64-72-71=207
T3	Nathan Cogswell	Renton, WA	200	66-69-72=207

View full results for Saguaro Amateur

About the Saguaro Amateur

Ben Warian takes Saguaro Amateur at Ak-Chin Southern Dunes Golf Club

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 ...