Soaring past the competition: Catalina Foothills golfer breaks school record, chases state title

Junior Parker Servoss took to the tee that day Sierra Vista Golf Center at Pueblo del Sol, and despite struggling to find fairways, showed incredible resolve and poise to fight through the adversity, recording numerous birdies en route to an astonishing eight-under round score of 28 through nine holes, a new school record.

“When I drove up to (hole) nine, he had already finalized his score and he had just the biggest smile on his face,” Falcons’ golf coach Julie Walters said. “I told him, ‘Parker, I am so proud of you!’ and he replies, ‘Hey coach, that was an ugly 28!’ and I go, ‘It’s a scorecard, not a postcard, it doesn’t matter how you did it!.’”

The round score of 28 marks the high point thus far of a six-year golf career for Servoss that dates back to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the Catalina Foothills junior has soared across the Arizona junior golf scene and cemented himself as a physical fixture for the Falcons. With the second half of his junior year remaining and senior year after that, Servoss hopes to compete for a state championship and play Division I golf in college.

Despite his current aspirations to capture the Arizona golf scene and thrive at the next level, Servoss didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a golfer.

For most of his life, the Catalina Foothills junior’s sport was tennis. He first stepped on a tennis court at age 2, following the footsteps of his dad and uncles, who cultivated Servoss’ love for the sport from a young age.

Servoss still competes in tennis at a very high level in Arizona, winning the Division II Doubles State Championship with teammate Santiago Astengo as a freshman. But at age 10, when COVID-19 rolled around and shut down Servoss’ tennis tournaments, he filled the void with golf.

Servoss credits his exposure to the game of golf to his grandfather, who regularly took him out to play which expanded his love for the game. As Servoss got better, he got increasingly competitive, a trait which extends from his tennis background.

According to Junior Golf Association of Arizona records, Servoss’ first junior tournament win came in April of 2022 at the Tucson Conquistadores Spring Classic, where he shot 69 over two days to take the top spot. He placed second twice on the 2023 schedule, won the first event of the 2024 circuit and followed it up with another win at the Phoenix Metro Jr. Championship in 2025. Earlier this spring, Servoss won the Superstition Junior Classic at Mountain Brook Golf Course, then capped the season with a win at the Southwest PGA Jr. Prep Tour Championship at Oakcreek Country Club.

So, with roughly six years of golf under his belt and just over two years before his first junior championship victory, how did Servoss get so good, so quickly?

“I just practice,” he shrugged. “ I put in a lot of practice, and the results have kind of confirmed that I put in a lot of work and strive to get better.”

Servoss’ commitment to excellence has become a defining part of the junior’s game.

He often goes to chip and putt in the wee hours of the morning before school, then returns to the course in the blazing heat to hit the range and then play at least nine holes after that. During practice, the junior is intentional about what he does, honing in on specific things to improve each time.

“He’s done a great job of identifying what he wants to work on for the day, and then he applies that,” Walters said. “He’s not distracted by it. Even if the other boys want to play a game within the game, he will stay committed to whatever his focal point is during practice.”

Aside from the exceptional round of 28, Servoss is currently ranked No. 4 in the state through 11 rounds this season, shooting under par eight times and breaking 30 twice.

Walters states that Servoss’ physical tools, as well as combination of athleticism and mentality, and his ability to find greens and recover on the course are some of his strongest traits.

“His proximity to the flag is what I think is one of his best qualities,” Walters said of the 6-foot-2 lefty. “When he doesn’t have that proximity, he’s really gifted at recovery shots around the green.”

“He’s just an athlete, plain and simple. It doesn’t surprise me when you combine his athleticism with his mentality and self-discipline that he has developed this quickly. He has a physical presence for being a junior in high school, and that’s a gift.”

Outside of the game, Servoss is a strong student, possessing a 3.5 GPA. In his free time, he plays pickleball and video games with his friends. When thinking about the next level, he aspires to play at the University of Alabama.

For now, Servoss is focused on making the most of his high school career. State is circled on his calendar in both individual and team competition. Walters believes Servoss has the tools to make a run at the top of the leaderboard; the junior just wants to contribute the best he can to help his team succeed.

“I really enjoy being a part of a team and everything that comes with that,” Servoss said. “That’s one of the things that makes sports fun.”

“I’m just so excited to see what he has to bring for the rest of the season,” Walters said. “I really look forward to seeing what he does at state… I think he’s committed to going after it this year and being in the top five. I think he has the ability to win as well if he puts his game all together.”

For a player who only picked up golf because his first sport temporarily disappeared, Servoss has certainly come a long way in six years. And he isn’t even close to being finished yet.

Fast Five with Parker

Favorite club in your bag?

My driver.

Favorite course to play?

Probably La Paloma.

If you could golf anywhere in the world, where would you play?

Old Collier Golf Club in Florida, it’s my grandpa’s course.

Which golf pro, content creator or personality would you like to play with the most?

Justin Thomas.

What's your favorite class in school?

I would say Math or English.