High School Girls State Championship
The Division 2 state championship was on the tough Tucson National Sonoran course on a very windy day. In the end, local high school girls won the team championship.
The Ironwood Ridge girls team took the team trophy — the school’s first. Nighthawk sisters Hannah (67-73 140) and Raina Ports (77-72 149) both finished in the top 10. Ironwood Ridge defeated Phoenix Cactus Shadows by 5 shots, and local rival Catalina Foothills by 11. Salpointe Catholic finished 6th.
Also, Maya Benita, from Catalina Foothills High School won the individual championship after having finished second last year. Benita, who is bound for the U of A next year, shot a 7 under 135. It’s the third time a Falcon girl’s golfer has finished at the top of the leaderboard at the state tournament.
In all, 7 out of the top 10 spots went to golfers from Southern Arizona.
High School Boys State Championship
On the boys side, perennial power Salpointe finished 6th and Ironwood Ridge’s boys team finished 11th of 12 teams. The boys also played at Tucson National, but on the Catalina course.
The best finish for a Southern Arizona boys golfer was a three way tie for 14th. Salpointe’s Carlos Astiazaran, Ironwood Ridge’s Jarrod Johnson and Walden Grove’s Gabe Escalera all finished with a two day total of 153. Salpointe’s Max Krueger was two shots back at 155 and Sabino’s Ray J Ramirez was two back from Krueger with a total of 157.
Former CDO standout Jonathon Walters is ranked number two in the country among junior college players with a 70.31 scoring average. Walters who is currently playing for the top ranked JUCO team in the country, South Mountain CC in Phoenix, has yet to announce where he plans to play next year.
LPGA Qualifier
U of A Women’s Golf standout Haley Moore made it through Q-school, finishing in the top 45, securing a spot on the LPGA tour.
