She was too young to play in the high school state tournament last week, yet it would have been Rubik's Cube intriguing to see how 14-year-old Sirene Blair would have fared if they'd have let her play.
One could make a case that this junior high school phenomenon from South Jordan is the best female golfer in the state.
Many girls, at age 14, are just finishing that awkward stage. They've grown quicker than boys to that point and often struggle fitting into their bodies. They're self-conscious, unsure. I have daughters; I know the drill.
Sirene has found her groove in golf. She can place a 5-iron. She's a conqueror. Trade a sword for a driver and she's a little Joan of Arc.
She can drive it with laser accuracy off the tee 230 yards. Her short game gets scary good at times. The trump card is her putter, and when that flat iron's working — well, anything is possible.
On Saturday, Sirene shot a 75 with a double-bogey water ball on the final hole at Southgate to win by one shot over defending 5A medalist, sophomore Tara Green of Weber High School, in one of the first Utah Junior Golf Association events of the year in St. George.
Her father, Robert Blair, once a scratch golfer out of Glenmoor, got her seriously involved when she was 10.
"I didn't think she could beat me for four or five years," he said. "But she did."
He played from the tips with Sirene teeing it up from the women's tees. His daughter fired a 2-over-par 74 and beat Robert by a stroke at Glenmoor — when she was 12.
"I was very excited about that. Losing to her? I was fine," said Robert. "It came earlier than I ever expected. But I have fun playing with her. I have to play a pretty good game, or I get my butt kicked."
Sirene fired a lifetime-best 1-under-par 71 at Bloomington in the first round of the UGA Winterchamps at St. George back in March, then held on to defeat the rest of the field by five points over Echo Thatcher in the Stableford format. A few weeks later, she won the Mary Lou Baker at Glenmoor, firing 74-75 — 149, good for a 2-shot win over 24-year-old Thatcher and three-stroke margin over 18-year-old Annika Afoa.
That's right, Annika.
"The reaction of the older women? A lot of them couldn't believe how good she played for her age," said Robert. "The older women are very gracious but competitive. They don't like to lose."
While she'll play in her second state amateur tournament this summer at Thanksgiving Point, her main focus this summer is winning Utah Junior Golf Association events, which will propel her to national events like the Junior World Championships in San Diego.
At 13, she finished 11th at last year's state amateur at Hill Air Force Base.
"My goal is to be the Utah Junior Golfer of the Year," Sirene said.
Her dad has been her main coach. But he hasn't hesitated in taking her to others for specialties, like video breakdown at the Golf Lab and elements of her short game with the talented Glen Spencer at Golf Galaxy.
"I used to hang around my dad when he was playing. He's pretty good. He's been my main coach," Sirene said. "I really don't need another one, really."
But her father doesn't mind enlisting handlers.
One of the experts who has dissected Blair's game is 2007 Utah Section PGA Teacher of the Year Cory Badger, director of instruction at The Golf Lab.
Badger notes Blair's UGA victories this year have come against competition that didn't include many of the state's top collegiate players.
Still, he believes Blair can bring it to them and handle the pressure.
"I think it's hard for any kid to have that kind of pressure put on them, but she expects it out of herself," Badger said. "I think she really is that good.
"A lot of the college girls are not playing in these events, so the fields are not as good as they can be. She would tell you that. She is still amazing, however. I teach many of the college players and this summer, when they're competing, we'll see how good she is, but I think she can still beat them and they are pretty talented."
Badger sees the natural mechanics in Blair's swing are pure.
"The thing I notice about her is not only is she a great talent, but she knows how the swing should feel," Badger said, "and it is something I haven't seen in many young golfers. You show her, and not only does she do it, but she knows how it feels to do it right, to feel the correct position and to replicate it."
Badger said, "She's determined. She wants to be good, and I think she has a drive for it. I think her family has really good support. I don't see a lot of pressure from them; I just see good support."
Blair is currently ranked No. 3 on the UGA Women's Performance Points behind Lachell Poffenberger (6.25 rating) and Thatcher (6.00) with a 5.00 rating in just three events played.
Robert Blair is obviously proud of his daughter. He's trying to be a gentle handler.
"It's fun. She's a pleasant person to be around, and she's played against and with some very good women who are a joy to be around as I caddy for her," he said.
In other words, the kid is young, nice, and others are returning the sugar.
So far, it works.
E-MAIL: dharmon@desnews.com