ROOSEVELT – After one day performing in the boys 3A State Golf Tournament at Roosevelt City’s golf course, Region 9’s best and brightest are still very much in the hunt.
Park City’s Justin Shluker leads all with a score of 73 in individuals after the first round. Not far behind are Pine View’s Hayden Hayward, who shot a 78, and Dixie’s A.J. Orchard with a 79.
“The course was in great shape,” Dixie coach Erin Demming said. “But about a third into our round the wind started blowing really hard – like 30 miles per hour. The wind made it tough for our boys to play out there.”
Demming, whose team missed the final round cut by six points, felt that conditions were better than last year’s unmitigated disaster at state when Region 9 played amidst a bitter snow storm and limped into the finals.
Still, questions must be raised concerning the location of choice for the state tournament, which has now impacted Region 9’s play for two years in a row.
“Obviously it’d be better for us (to play in St. George),” Demming said. “But all of the northern schools complained about the travel (when the event was held at St. George’s Sunbrook golf course in 2010). Playing here would give us too much of an advantage. They’d rather play in horrible weather than give us any kind of advantage.”
Despite the adverse climate, Pine View (328), Desert Hills (330) and Snow Canyon (337) each survived the first round of cuts, but still trail first-place Park City (303).
Also in the mix for individual play are Brandt Pierce (80) from Pine View, Jared Kerber (80) from Canyon View and Joey Sargent (81) from Snow Canyon.
Surprisingly absent from the top of the list was Pine View wunderkind Andrew Shopinski, who finished the day with an 86.
With one day left to go, Region 9 still has a chance to make some noise and bounce back – if the weather gives them a break.
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