PAYSON — High school golf coaches have a difficult time convincing every player that every shot and every score matters.
Monday's Region 7 match at Gladstan Golf Course might help them get the message across.
With six of the eight players in the clubhouse, Springville and Payson were deadlocked. But when Springville's No. 7 player Ryan Rigby posted a 79 the Red Devils moved ahead. But the Lions had a surprise of their own when their No. 7 player, Dustin Paul, fired a 78 — including an even-par 35 on the back nine.
"You never know who's going to bring it in," Payson coach Marilyn Miller said.
However, the Lions' celebration was short-lived. The Red Devils' No. 8 man, Ryan Christensen, capped the surprise ending off when he rounded out Springville's scoring with a 77, which allowed them to drop an 83, giving his team a five-shot victory over Payson in the league's second match. In the running season total, Springville now has a 20-shot lead over the Lions and a 28-shot lead over Timpview.
"I talk about how every score matters all the time, but you just never know if it's going to sink in," Springville coach Brett Miller said.
Red Devil junior Clark Fredrickson, region medalist last season, is picking up where he left off and won individual honors again Monday by firing a 2-over par 73. He edged Payson's Chad Moody by one stroke and Payson's Jace Nielsen by three shots. Fredrickson now has an overall four-shot lead over Timpview's Tommy Forsman and an eight-shot lead over Nielsen, Moody and his Springville teammate Paul Norman.
For the day, Springville had four players post rounds in the 70s. Payson and Timpview had three each. Unfortunately for the Thunderbirds, they didn't have the same quality of scoring deep and had to count an 88.
The third region match is scheduled for next Tuesday at Cascade Fairways.
IN REGION 4, the Spanish Fork Dons bounced back to win Match 2 Monday at Hobble Creek Golf Course by nine shots over Pleasant Grove. American Fork finished 12 shots back and Lone Peak, winners of the first match, 13 shots behind. The Knights still lead the region's overall race by seven strokes over the Vikings. Spanish Fork closed to within 11 strokes.
Lone Peak freshman Garret Fotu, with a stellar 74, took medalist honors for the second straight week. Pleasant Grove's Mike Anderson fired a 77. Timpanogos' Jeff Holmes, Mountain View's Devon Felton, and Spanish Fork's Clayton Cundy and Garrett Moss all shot 78s.
E-mail: jimr@desnews.com