Bingham is top dog in Region 3 golf again, as usual.

Even Miners coach Brad Bevan was aware that the other coaches tabbed him as the front-runner. And he did not shy away from the honor.

"We have a lot of good players," he said. First and foremost he named Adam Anderson, two-time first team all-state. He is back for his senior year after averaging 36.4 stroke averages for nine holes last year.

Returning from last year's All-Region 3 first team are Matt Crook, Wade Anderson and Justin Higgins. A hot prospect to watch is freshman Kobin Courtney. Seniors Collin Wilkenson and Shawn Baker round out the team.

Copper Hills coach Mike Booth acknowledges that the Miners will be the top team this year, but he says,"We are excited about giving Bingham a go." And the coach's son, Nick Booth, is one reason why. Last year he was the Grizzlies' No. 1 player as a freshman. All the Copper Hills players will be more seasoned this year.

"They have been playing a lot more this year," said Booth. "They have put in more time."

Senior Travis Kanegae is expected to contribute this year. He missed most of last year after injuring his hand while flipping pizzas. Word has it he has a new job this year.

David Allen, another senior, will bolster the team.

"He has been playing really good," Booth said.

Sophomore Anthony Nixon played last year as a freshman, and his added experience will make him more solid.

All in all, the atmosphere is "excitement" at Copper Hills.

"We'll try to focus on staying positive," Booth said.

West Jordan coach Dan Cowan lists senior Cody Culligan and junior Devin Pearson as his top two players.

"We should have a good solid team," he said. "The kids played a lot during the summer."

But he said that a great team has players who live golf all day long.

"We won the state championship in 1997 with five kids who worked at the golf course," he said.

Cowan said sophomore Zac Noble will really help the team this year as he played a lot last year as a freshman. Junior Dillan Jacobsen and senior Zac Jendryka round out his team.

Hunter will almost be starting over as six seniors graduated from last year's team. But coach Kevin Christensen is optimistic.

"We still expect a lot of good things," he said.

He mentioned Kasey Cleverly. He returns as a senior and went to state as a freshman. He also expects good things from Colton Nickel, Trevor Hightower and Travis Hodge.

"Our program is continuing to get better," he said.

Kearns may have trouble moving up the ladder in this region. Coach Wayne Anderson said senior G.W. Roderick heads the list of returnees and has played on the team for three years.

"He can play a little bit," Anderson said.

Senior Braxton Thorup and senior Thayne Aubrey are solid returning players. But Anderson described a common scene at his school.

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"I'll get kids that say, 'My buddy is trying out, can I try out too?'"

Anderson said, "Kearns is not exactly the golf capital of the world."

Riverton most likely will finish somewhere in the middle of the pack around Copper Hills and West Jordan.


E-mail: wjewkes@desnews.com

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