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September 18, 2007
DV focuses on team unity, improving 11th place state finish.
Andrew
Michelson probably wouldn’t complain if the state boys’ 5A golf
championship was held at the Ken McDonald Golf Course in Tempe.
The Desert Vista High School senior shot seven-under-par, for a total of 101 over 27 holes, at the municipal course to win medalist honors and help the Thunder score their first city and Central Region championship since 2003.
Michelson established himself as the golfer to beat during Friday’s opening nine holes and was six-under over 18 holes on Saturday.
“I was pretty happy starting out with a 35,” Michelson said. “That gave me a lot of confidence and incentive to come out and do better the second day,”
The Thunder had three players shoot under par the second day and passed the first-round leader Tempe McClintock down the stretch, carding a team score of 427. McClintock was second at 437 while Tempe Corona del Sol was third at 450.
Sierra Vista Buena was fourth (463), followed by Mountain Pointe (471), Chandler Basha (478) and Tempe Marcos de Niza (486).
Michelson’s teammate, Kevin Witte, chased the leader over the course and finished with an 18-hole round of 68 and an overall total of 109 – just one stroke behind the leader.
“Kevin had an amazing round,” Michelson said. “I kept looking over my shoulder all day because I thought he was going to catch me.”
Desert Vista’s Tyler Gaston was fifth with a one-over 109.
The Ken McDonald fairways and greens were scalped in preparation for winter grass over-seeding later this week.
“That made it a little harder, but you just have to adjust,” Michelson said. “I had a lot of birdies and didn’t miss many putts, so I had a good day.”
Possibly the best day of any player to put on a Desert Vista golf shirt, Thunder coach Peter Moody said.
“That’s the first time we’ve ever had a medalist in an invitational tournament,” Moody said. “We’ve been working on this for the last three years and finally put it all together at the right time to win the region. We have some talent and our kids have a lot of confidence.”
Michelson didn’t play as a freshman but is No. 2 on the ladder behind Witte this season.
“We’re all playing like a No. 1 right now, and that helps,” Michelson said. “I was just trying to finish well as a senior.”
Desert Vista finished 11th in the state tournament last year at the Maryvale Golf Course behind Mountain Pointe and Scottsdale Horizon. This year’s state tournament is scheduled for the Aguila Golf Course in Laveen.
“We had a first, second and fifth, but I hope we’re just getting started,” Moody said. “I wish I could keep these seniors another year though.”
Moody said Chandler Hamilton should be the team to beat at state playoff time.
“We’ll see if we can run them down,” Moody added.
Larry Ward can be reached at (480) 898-7915 or at lward@aztrib.com.
The Desert Vista High School senior shot seven-under-par, for a total of 101 over 27 holes, at the municipal course to win medalist honors and help the Thunder score their first city and Central Region championship since 2003.
Michelson established himself as the golfer to beat during Friday’s opening nine holes and was six-under over 18 holes on Saturday.
“I was pretty happy starting out with a 35,” Michelson said. “That gave me a lot of confidence and incentive to come out and do better the second day,”
The Thunder had three players shoot under par the second day and passed the first-round leader Tempe McClintock down the stretch, carding a team score of 427. McClintock was second at 437 while Tempe Corona del Sol was third at 450.
Sierra Vista Buena was fourth (463), followed by Mountain Pointe (471), Chandler Basha (478) and Tempe Marcos de Niza (486).
Michelson’s teammate, Kevin Witte, chased the leader over the course and finished with an 18-hole round of 68 and an overall total of 109 – just one stroke behind the leader.
“Kevin had an amazing round,” Michelson said. “I kept looking over my shoulder all day because I thought he was going to catch me.”
Desert Vista’s Tyler Gaston was fifth with a one-over 109.
The Ken McDonald fairways and greens were scalped in preparation for winter grass over-seeding later this week.
“That made it a little harder, but you just have to adjust,” Michelson said. “I had a lot of birdies and didn’t miss many putts, so I had a good day.”
Possibly the best day of any player to put on a Desert Vista golf shirt, Thunder coach Peter Moody said.
“That’s the first time we’ve ever had a medalist in an invitational tournament,” Moody said. “We’ve been working on this for the last three years and finally put it all together at the right time to win the region. We have some talent and our kids have a lot of confidence.”
Michelson didn’t play as a freshman but is No. 2 on the ladder behind Witte this season.
“We’re all playing like a No. 1 right now, and that helps,” Michelson said. “I was just trying to finish well as a senior.”
Desert Vista finished 11th in the state tournament last year at the Maryvale Golf Course behind Mountain Pointe and Scottsdale Horizon. This year’s state tournament is scheduled for the Aguila Golf Course in Laveen.
“We had a first, second and fifth, but I hope we’re just getting started,” Moody said. “I wish I could keep these seniors another year though.”
Moody said Chandler Hamilton should be the team to beat at state playoff time.
“We’ll see if we can run them down,” Moody added.
Larry Ward can be reached at (480) 898-7915 or at lward@aztrib.com.
