High school golf: Golfers tee it up for new year
Gone are the days when a round in the mid 70s is good enough to be a high school golf champion. There are so many quality golfers playing prep golf this year that normally it takes a score under 70 just to have a shot at winning a region meet. Teams that want to challenge for a region or state title better plan on having at least four or five players shooting in the 70s on a regular basis.
Most likely, when the state champions will be crowned the first week of October when the 2A, 3A, 4A and 5A state golf tournaments are held at Soldier Hollow State Park Golf Course, teams will probably need a handful of players to shoot near even par.
Here's a quick look at what Utah's prep golfers have to offer this season.
5A: Clearly the strongest region in prep golf in Utah is Region 1. Defending state champion Fremont, even with some of the state's top golfers back in Zach Blair, Patrick Fishburn and Cody Wass, has its hands full with league rivals Syracuse and Layton. The Titans have three outstanding golfers in Devon Purser, Colton Ogden and Devin Dickson. The Lancers are led by Brandon Kida, a sophomore who is good enough to win the state medalist. Even Weber, with Nick Throngrit and Taylor Garner, should make some noise.
Region 3 could be the weakest league in 5A, with the top players being Devin Pearson of West Jordan, Kobin Courtney of Bingham and Nick Booth of Copper Hills.
Region 4 is balanced at the top with Lone Peak, Spanish Fork and American Fork. The Dons' Garrett Moss will be aiming for his third straight league title, but he has strong competition this season from Garrett Fotu and Joe Parkinson of Lone Peak.
4A: There's probably not a team in 4A golf this season that's as strong as 2007 state champion Dixie. The Flyers lost five of the six players who helped win that title a year ago. However, returner Andrew Huff and newcomer McCoy Willy should have the Flyers challenging once again. Their cross-town rivals, the Pine View Panthers, are also a strong bunch, with Skyler Schone, Steven Wade, Mason Van Orden and Drew Van Orden back.
Many feel that Bonneville will give the southern schools the biggest battle. The Lakers have two very good players in Brock Glassman and Greg Diaz. Box Elder, also from Region 5, is led by Joe Wight. Alex Graser from Woods Cross and Trace Hansen of Mountain Crest should also be among the top players in 4A.
Recent comments
First article is wrong on Park City, they only had Sam Bell and Michael…
pc mom | Oct. 10, 2008 at 6:25 p.m.
nice job lone peak we all know who won state now cut the talk lone…
fan | Oct. 8, 2008 at 8:16 a.m.
the minors are a good strong team but have no chance of winning state…
go minors | Sept. 23, 2008 at 8:43 a.m.
