After the Ironwood Ridge girls golf team eked out a victory for their second straight Division 2 state championship…the only question on peoples minds was…can they win a third? You see, they’ll have most of their team back for another crack at glory again next season.
The Nighthawks had three golfers shoot the same score as they defeated a very tough Cave Creek Cactus Shadows squad for the second straight year. And it was not without excitement. Ironwood Ridge had a big lead heading into the final day, but by 16 it was all tied up. The experienced group of Zoe Newell, Hannah and Raina Ports rallied with some clutch birdies late to secure the win. All three finished with the same 3 over par 149 on the par 73 Catalina Course at Tucson National. Celia Schrecker came in with a solid 156 as the fourth Nighthawk scorer.
Catalina Foothills finished a strong third, with Mia Cesarek leading the way with a 161.
Meanwhile, no Tucson boys team was near the top of the leaderboard at the end of day 2, however, one local golfer had the individual championship in his grasp. Salpointe’s Carlos Astiazaran ended up losing the top spot by two shots, after shooting a double bogey on 18. Nerves may have gotten the best of him, as he missed a couple of short putts. He still ended 5 under, a second place finish. But he’s just a sophomore. He’ll back.
Other top Tucson performers included Walden Grove’s Gabe Escalera with an even par 140 on the Sonora Course at Tucson National. Astiazaran’s teammate Albert Quihuis finished with a 151 and Ray J Ramirez from Sabino, a 154.
