High School Golf: Syracuse favored to win again at 5A tournament

OREM — Considering Syracuse has four players back from last year's state 5A golf championship team, and won the Region 1 crown this season — which is considered the strongest golf league in Utah — the Titans are clearly the favorites to repeat when the 36-hole 2010 state tournament gets underway Tuesday at the Links at Sleepy Ridge.

The Titans' strength is having stars in the top two or three spots, and then depth all the way through the No. 6 spot. That's exactly the formula Syracuse used last fall to take home the state title, edging 2008 champion Lone Peak.

Devon Purser finished as Region 1 medalist for the Titans, with teammates Jonathan Thomas, Colton Dallimore and Spencer Barber posting solid scores all season. All four were part of last year's title team.

"It's one of the finest teams I've ever seen," Bingham coach Brad Bevan said.

The search for teams that will challenge Syracuse starts within the Titans' own league. Layton (led by defending state medalist Brandon Kida, Brennen Coburn and Thomas Dearden) also has a deep squad. Weber (with Bubba Hall), Davis (with Taylor Haws) and Fremont (with Patrick Fishburn) have players very capable of taking home the state medalist hardware.

The state's other 5A teams are by no means mailing in their chances. Bingham, champion of Region 3, could be Syracuse's toughest challenger — again because of the depth the Miners have with Mana Angilau, Kalin Vorwaller, Sam Erekson, Mitch Erekson and Zach Deardorf. The Miners know they'll have to play their best golf of the season to get the job done — and that might not even be enough.

"We just have to relax and play within ourselves," Bevan said.

Lone Peak will send another strong team off with Alex Stulce, Braxton Barber, Nick Emery, Mitch Call, Tanner Lacey and Jake Fotu.

"Lone Peak has great depth and talent and has the right mix of seniors with some younger players who are really helping take up the slack," Bevan said.

Among the sleeper teams, Cottonwood and Skyline from Region 2 have plenty of talent, as does Alta and Brighton from Region 4.

The Colts are led by Max Metcalf and Carson Caldwell, and the Eagles should get solid play from Travis Norseth and Jaden Jackson, while the Hawks will lean on Kenny You and Nick Owen, with the Bengals turning to Andrew Paulson, Matt Rigby and Nate Wunderli.