Joe Kline / The Bulletin file photoBend's Ryan DeCastilhos won an American Junior Golf Association event in Las Vegas over the weekend.

LAS VEGAS — Ryan DeCastilhos, a 2015 Bend High School graduate who was part of the Lava Bears’ state runner-up team in May, won a prestigious American Junior Golf Association event over the weekend.

DeCastilhos shot 73-68—141 and won the AJGA Winn Grips/Butch Harmon Senior Showcase boys tournament in a sudden-death playoff Sunday with a par on the first extra hole at the Angel Park Golf Club’s Mountain Course.

DeCastilhos, who turns 19 this month, has been attending a postgraduate golf program at the Gary Gilchrist Golf Academy, outside of Orlando, Florida, this fall, working on his game in an effort earn a spot on a collegiate team.

“It’s really exciting to see my hard work pay off, and humbling to see what kind of company I’m in winning the tournament,” DeCastilhos said by phone from Florida on Monday.

It was DeCastilhos’ 10th AJGA event and his highest finish. His best previous AJGA finish was 11th at Centennial Golf Club in Medford in 2014.

Coaches from several colleges attended the two-day event and, according to DeCastilhos, a couple of them followed the Bend golfer on the course and spoke with him after the tournament Sunday.

“Winning the tournament will definitely open some doors for me and that was my purpose for coming to the academy,” DeCastilhos said.

— Bulletin staff report