The second PPA Challenger event of the year took place in Tucson, Arizona, over the weekend, where Team Selkirk’s rising pros flourished.
Shimabukuro triple medals
After a few days in Minnesota at the Indoor National Championship, 15-year-old Tama Shimabukuro arrived in Tucson and quickly became one of the tournament’s standout performers. Competing in three divisions, the young phenom medaled in all of them, showcasing both consistency and composure against top-tier competition.
Shimabukuro opened his weekend in men’s singles, navigating a draw loaded with talent. Labeled one of the players to watch entering the event, he lived up to the expectations, defeating Anouar Braham and Daniel Traxler en route to the gold-medal match. There, he faced Matthew Finnerty and ultimately fell in two games, securing a silver medal.
In men’s doubles, Shimabukuro teamed up with a Hawai`i friend, Riley Inn, who also competed with the Selkirk LABS Boomstik. The duo cruised through the early rounds before being pushed to three games in the semifinals by Joel Poland and Eduardo Santini Ayon. After dropping the first game 4-11, Shimabukuro and Inn responded emphatically, winning 11-0, 15-13 to advance to the final. They capped off the run with an 11-5, 9011, 11-6 victory over Rio Newcombe and Connor McCartney, earning gold in a 43-team field.
Shimabukuro rounded out his weekend in mixed doubles alongside PPA pro Samantha Parker. After a semifinal loss, the pair progressed in the backdraw, defeating tour veteran Lindsey Newman and Rio Newcombe before clinching the bronze medal with a win over Miles Hoover and Jaeda Minniefield.
With medals across all three divisions, Shimabukuro’s performance in Tucson further cemented his status as one of the brightest young talents on the PPA Tour.
Sparta Pro Lenhard wins first mixed title in PPA Challenger
Selkirk Sparta Pro Rafa Lenhard added another milestone to his PPA Challenger resume, capturing his first mixed doubles gold medal on the tour alongside rising teen Jalina Ingram. A familiar presence on the Challenger podium, Lenhard and Ingram showcased composure and control throughout the draw.
The pair made a statement in the early rounds before securing a notable victory over Zoey Weil and Pesa Teoni, 11-9, 13-11. In the final, Lenhard and Ingram faced Lucas Pascoe and Chloe Iglseki, delivering a dominant performance to claim the title with a 13-11, 11-0 win.
