High school golf in Utah County should be pretty good this year.
Just looking at the players returning, it has to be. The top two players from Region 4 from 2005 are back as is the player in Region 7 who has won back-to-back medalist titles. However, as the valley's prep coaches found out last year, taming the courses in region play doesn't always translate into success at the state tournament. A few of Utah County's teams had high expectations heading into last season's state match, and Springville's fourth-place finish was the best a valley team could do. The state showing by the Red Devils was a bit of a disappointment considering they were picked as the team to beat heading into the final tournament.
In fact, since Orem's 4A state title in 2004, no local team has played to its potential at the state tournament. So what are the valley's coaches doing this year to change that? Mainly, working on the mental aspects of the game and trying to get their players to spend more time on their short game.
"The kids have to be more mentally tough," Springville coach Brett Miller said.
The difference between the top teams and the bottom teams is the same every year, and that's depth. Even teams with one or two great players struggle in the team competition because six of eight scores count at the region matches and four of six count at the state tournament.
This year's state tournaments are scheduled for the first week in October. The 5A tournament is set for Oct. 1 and 2 at Solder Hollow, with the 4A match taking place Oct. 3 and 4, also at Soldier Hollow. Four teams from Region 4 qualify for the state tournament and five teams from Region 7 will move on.
No team from Utah County, including Springville, begins the season as the team to beat in the state. Fremont and Davis are the top teams in 5A, while the three teams from St. George should lead the pack in 4A. Still, anything can happen in the 36-hole state tournament.
Region 4
With the dominance of Spanish Fork over the past decade, it's hard to think any other team in the league could be the favorite. However, after one match it looks like the Dons will be challenged this season by Timpanogos and Lone Peak, and that's just fine with Spanish Fork coach John Bingham.
"The better the competition, the better everyone is going to be," he said.
The Dons are led by sophomore Garrett Moss, the returning league medalist. Moss opened the season with a 73 at The Ranches to grab a share of the medalist honors at the league's first match. Spanish Fork should also lean on Brady Hughes, Tyler Duffin and Greg Money.
"I think we might be a player or two away from a state championship, but we should be better than we were last year," Bingham said.
The Timberwolves probably have their strongest team in years, if not ever. Senior lefty Jeff Holmes, one of the best players last year had an outstanding summer and gained a ton of experience playing in some prestigious national events. He's going to get some help this year from Kasey Dupre and Will Peterson. In the league's first match Holmes finished tied for first, Dupre third and Peterson tied for 10th.
"We should do a lot better this year than last year, and I'd be very surprised if we didn't figure in the mix of the teams that go on to the state tournament," Timpanogos coach Kim Nelson said.
Lone Peak will lean on returner Joe Parkinson, and should also get plenty of help from newcomers Jory Bowers and Alex Stulze. The Knights are hoping to also get talented sophomore Garrett Fotu back on their team. American Fork's top player will likely be Taylor Judd, and the Cavemen have more depth than in recent years.
Pleasant Grove is in a rebuilding year and the Vikings will have to improve a lot if they want to advance to the state tournament. Lehi is a much better team, but the Pioneers still have a ways to go before they can compete with the best in 5A golf.
Region 7
From top to bottom, Springville has one of its deepest teams ever. Clark Fredrickson starts his senior year looking for his third straight medalist crown. After him, however, the Red Devils still have plenty of good players, and it wouldn't be a shocker if they had a different player be the low-man each week. Daniel Kerr, Taylor Bankhead, Colby North, Ryan Christensen, Mike Bate, Ryan Rigby and Steve Prothero are all capable of shooting under par.
"There's no reason at all why we shouldn't have five or six players shoot better than 2-over or 3-over at every match," Miller said.
The Timpview Thunderbirds are the league's most-improved team, and senior Tommy Forsman has been one of the league's top players for the past two seasons. This year he's going to get plenty of help from Cody Parkinson, Derek Hislop, Jordan Brockbank and Eric Skelton. In a match this week at Cascade, the T-Birds handed Springville only its second region match loss in the past two years.
Payson seems to have a stronger and deeper team this season, and after three early matches the leader in the medalist race is Lion Ryan Fillmore. The 70 he shot at Gladstan is the region's low score so far.
Senior Adam Law, of Provo, will likely be in the hunt for medalist honors each week, but the rest of the Bulldogs are young and the team doesn't have much depth. Greg Schofield is an exception and he will be a steady contributor.
Orem has two solid players back in Davis Gull and Nate Adamson, and freshman Dalton Stanger will eventually be the region's top player. The rest of the Tigers are not quite as steady.
"We have some kids who can shoot that 40 or 41 on nine holes, but we just don't have that depth that some of these other teams do," Orem coach Greg Sheide said.
Mountain View's top player is Mitch Murphy, but the Bruins are another bunch with no depth. Tooele is the new kid on the block, and it's looking like it will be a tough year for the Buffaloes. Based on early results, the Bruins and the Buffaloes might be the teams staying home in October.
Region 4 golf matches
Aug. 23 — Wasatch Mountain State Park
Aug. 28 — Hobble Creek
Aug. 30 — TalonsCove
Sept. 6 — Soldier Hollow
Sept. 13 — Spanish Oaks
Sept. 20 — Fox Hollow
Region 7 golf matches
Aug. 27 — Hobble Creek
Sept. 5 — Links at Overlake
Sept. 10 — Reserve at East Bay
Sept. 17 — Soldier Hollow
Sept. 24 — Spanish Oaks
E-mail: jimr@desnews.com