SPRINGVILLE — Slowly, but surely, the Spanish Fork Dons are beginning to take charge of the Region 4 golf race.
The Dons, after earning an eight-shot win Tuesday at the league's third match at Hobble Creek, have now widened their overall region lead to 19 strokes. Even though Timpanogos and Lone Peak are keeping each match close, Spanish Fork is still three-for-three in wins this season.
"We're starting to play some pretty good golf," Dons coach John Bingham said.
The Timberwolves, with four scores under 80 on Tuesday, edged the Knights for the second spot by one stroke. Timpanogos also leads Lone Peak in the overall race for second, but now by 13 strokes. American Fork, despite finishing fifth on Tuesday, is clinging to the league's final state tournament qualifying spot with a seven-shot lead over Pleasant Grove for the fourth position.
The medalist race remains a battle each week between Spanish Fork's Garrett Moss, Timpanogos' Jeff Holmes and Lone Peak's Garrett Fotu. Holmes entered Tuesday's match with a two-shot lead, but Moss went ahead by four shots by winning medalist honors at Hobble Creek with a steady 4-under-par 67. Holmes shot a 2-over 73, and Fotu, who missed the first match, fired 2-under-par 69.
"It's good for all three of those guys to have that good competition each week," Bingham said.
Spanish Fork's Brady Hughes took third Tuesday with a 72, while Timpanogos' Ben Olsen had a career-best 74.
Moss posted Tuesday's best round by taming the par-5s, making birdie on all four. Three came by way of two-putts on eagle tries, while Moss' birdie on the par-5 No. 9 required a nice up-and-down from in front of the green. Despite making bogey on his first hole and another bogey on No. 11, Moss had six birdies on the day.
"I had a lot of good up-and-downs and made a lot of good putts inside 10 feet," Moss said.
Fotu had the day's wildest round. He posted five birdies on the front side and two on the back. But he had only one par on the front nine and made a double-bogey 5 on the par-3 10th. Fotu and Moss were tied after 14 holes, but Moss made one birdie coming home while Fotu bogeyed No. 15. Holmes started the day off with an eagle on the par-5 third, but he bogeyed No. 8 and No. 9 and had a triple-bogey 7 on No. 12 before finishing with birdies on No. 16 and No. 18.
REGION 7: Springville edged Timpview and Payson by only three strokes each on Monday at Hobble Creek, but the Red Devils increased their overall lead to 39 strokes over Timpview with four matches remaining. The Red Devils, Lions and Thunderbirds each had five players shoot below 80.
Timpview's Tommy Forsman won his first medalist honors of the year with a 1-under par 70, which edged Springville's Clark Fredrickson and Payson's Jace Nielson by two strokes. At 74 were Ryan Christensen (Springville), Ryan Fillmore (Payson) and Orem freshman Dalton Stanger. In the overall medalist race, Fillmore has a four-shot lead over Fredrickson, and he's seven strokes ahead of Forsman and Springville's Daniel Kerr.
Region 4 Golf
Match 3 at Hobble Creek
Aug. 28
Team scores: Spanish Fork, 381; Timpanogos, 389; Lone Peak, 390; Pleasant Grove, 415; American Fork, 416; Lehi, 427.
Individual scores: Garrett Moss, Spanish Fork, 67; Garrett Fotu, Lone Peak, 69; Brady Hughes, Spanish Fork, 72; Jeff Holmes, Timpanogos, 73; Ben Olsen, Timpanogos, 74; Kasey Dupre, Timpanogos, 78; Alex Harris, Pleasant Grove, 78; Jake Craft, Pleasant Grove, 78; Joe Parkinson, Lone Peak, 78; Taylor Smart, Lone Peak, 78; Tyler Duffin, Spanish Fork, 79; Alex Stulze, Lone Peak, 79; Scott Andrus, American Fork, 79.
Region 7 Golf
Match 4 at Hobble Creek
Aug. 27
Team scores: Springville, 376; Timpview, 379; Payson, 379; Provo, 397; Orem, 409; Mountain View, 421; Tooele, 452.
Individual scores: Tommy Forsman, Timpview, 70; Clark Fredrickson, Springville, 72; Jace Nielson, Payson, 72; Dalton Stanger, Orem, 74; Ryan Fillmore, 74, Payson; Ryan Christensen, Springville, 74; Colby North, Springville, 75; Bryan York, Payson, 76; Jordan Brockbank, Timpview, 76; Daniel Kerr, Springville, 76; Cameron Johnson, Provo, 76; Mitch Murphy, Mountain View, 76; Derek Hislop, Timpview, 77; Dustin Paul, Payson, 78; Cody Parkinson, Timpview, 78; Jon Hammond, Timpview, 78; Adam Law, Provo, 78; Roby Reid, Payson, 79; Chandler Christensen, Springville, 79.
E-mail: jimr@desnews.com