The key to success in high school golf, just like a key element of the golf swing, is balance.
With the 2004 golf season heading for the final stretch, only four teams in Utah County have mastered that concept. After four matches, with two remaining, Spanish Fork and Springville are dueling it out in Region 6 for the league crown — with the defending champion Dons holding a slim 10-shot lead. Orem and Pleasant Grove are waging a comparable battle in Region 7— with the Tigers leading by 22 strokes with two matches left to play.
"They're very capable of catching us," Orem coach Steve Downey said of the second-place Vikings. "We've been fortunate so far to gain a stroke here and there, but they have several really good players."
The Vikings and Tigers are far ahead of their Region 7 foes because of depth. Orem has had seven different players break 80. Pleasant Grove has had six.
"It's been a different guy step up for us each week," Downey said. "All the way through our ladder, one through eight, we've had kids help with a score."
Orem's Dan Reid has a narrow three-shot lead over Pleasant Grove's Dane Jensen. The next nearest competitor is 23 shots back. Pleasant Grove's Steve Carter, the team's No. 2 player, sat out the last match with a bad back and could miss today's match at Gladstan, which could make things tough for the Vikings. Region 7's final match is set for Tuesday at Wasatch State Park.
In Region 6, the Dons are ahead of the Red Devils even though Springville has come out on top in three of the four region matches. The difference right now is Spanish Fork's 18-stroke win in match two held at Gladstan. Springville won the first match by four shots, and the third and fourth matches by two strokes. But the bad day in Payson is costing the Red Devils.
The Red Devils could make up some ground when they host a match today at Hobble Creek. The league's final match is Tuesday at Tri City Golf Course.
Twelve of the top 16 individual leaders in Region 6 are from the first- and second-place teams. Springville senior Tyler Weight holds a seven-stroke advantage over defending league medalist Ryan Eddington of Spanish Fork. Weight has finished atop the field in two matches and his first-match 68 at Wasatch State Park is the league's lowest score.
The Class 4A state golf championships are scheduled for Oct. 4-5 at Mountain Dell. Four teams qualify from Region 6 and three from Region 7.
Prep golf update
Region 6 team standings
(after four matches)
1. Spanish Fork 1,529
2. Springville 1,539
3. Payson 1,631
4. Timpview 1,670
5. American Fork 1,736
6. Provo 1,795
Region 6 top individuals
(after four matches)
296 — Tyler Weight, Springville
303 — Ryan Eddington, Sp. Fork
305 — Blake Hiatt, Payson
308 — Clark Fredrickson, Spring.
308 — Broden Hughes, Sp. Fork
310 — Eric Hainsworth, Timpview
311 — Matt Porter, Spanish Fork
313 — Brandon Olson, Payson
313 — Scott Whitaker, Sp. Fork
314 — Curtis Gallegos, Sp. Fork
315 — Mason Casper, Springville
319 — Colby North, Springville
326 — Bridger Butters, Sp. Fork
326 — Tyler Chicos, Am. Fork
331 — Colten Lamb, Springville
331 — Trevor Graves, Springville
Region 7 team standings
(after four matches)
1. Orem 1,546
2. Pleasant Grove 1,568
3. Lone Peak 1,600
4. Timpanogos 1,635
5. Mountain View 1,796
Region 7 top individuals
(after four matches)
287 — Dan Reid, Orem
290 — Dane Jensen, Pl. Grove
313 — Andrew Huntsman, Timp.
316 — Zack Johnson, Pl. Grove
316 — Ryan Phillips, Orem
316 — Zack Janiec, Lone Peak
317 — Zack Stratton, Orem
320 — Quin Eliason, Lone Peak
320 — Zack Johnson, Pl. Grove
321 — Brian Adamson, Orem
321 — Conlin Gull, Orem
323 — Jared Adamson, L. Peak
325 — Nick Holmstead, L. Peak
325 — Jeff Holmes, Timpanogos
326 — Davis Gull, Orem
326 — Ryan Bezzant, Pl. Grove
E-mail: jimr@desnews.com