SYRACUSE — Sirene Blair capped off a perfect high school career Monday at Glen Eagle Golf Course, where she led Bingham High School to its fourth-straight 5A girls golf championship while winning her fourth individual title.
Blair won the individual trophy with room to spare, carding a 2-under-par 70, which converted to a score of 92 in the modified Stableford scoring system used in the girls tournaments (6 points for birdie, 5 for par, etc.). That was four better than Miner teammate Sam Crawford and Davis freshman Jessica Sloot, who both shot 74 and had Stableford scores of 88.
However, the team victory was another matter. No one knew who had won the team title until the very last number was recorded on the scoreboard by Utah Section PGA Executive Director Scott Whitaker.
Dozens of girls and their coaches and parents crowded into the Glen Eagle clubhouse after a hot day on the golf course, watching as Davis’ team score of 317 was put on the board. When Bingham’s score of 318 was posted, a big cheer went up from the Miner faithful, who weren’t sure if they had won until that moment.
“This just gets better and better every time — I love it," said Bingham coach Liz Conry, who had been sweating out her team’s fate a few minutes earlier. “I was super stressed — I didn’t think we pulled this one off today. I didn’t know until I asked Sirene what her score was and I still wasn’t 100 percent sure.’’
The Miners had the two lowest scores from Blair and Crawford, a junior who also finished second a year ago. However, the rest of the team struggled as Alexa Martin shot 89, Emily Acton 97 and Aleena Pittenger 100.
Blair, who is headed to San Diego State next year, made five birdies on the front nine to turn at 31, highlighted by a tap-in birdie at No. 4 when she stuck her wedge within inches of the cup. She found some trouble on the backside, particularly at No. 16 when she hit into a hazard. But she just missed making birdies at 17 and 18 and had enough to hold on for the victory.
Of winning her fourth-straight high school individual title, the low-key Blair said, "It still feels good.''
Davis’ young team could only lament a missed shot here or there that would have made the difference in winning its first state title.
“We knew we could compete with them, but it came down to one shot,’’ said Davis coach Lori Salvo. “It was a crazy way to finish to lose by one stroke because every girl will second-guess this shot or that shot.’’
The future looks bright for the Darts, however, as Sloot and Laura Gernier, who tied for seventh overall at 79, are both freshmen and none of the six Davis players at the meet are seniors.
“To have that pressure and do what they did today is amazing,’’ said Salvo of her freshmen.
Alta’s Madi Rooker had closed to within two shots of Blair heading into the final hole. However, she found trouble at the par-5 18 when she hit into a couple of bunkers and made a triple-bogey, which dropped her from second to fourth place at 75.
The Hawks finished fourth at 301, a point behind Weber at 302. Viewmont was fifth at 293.
The 2A girls tournament is Tuesday at Lakeside, while the 4A tourney is Wednesday at The Barn in Ogden. Class 1A is Wednesday at Rose Park, and the 3A is Thursday at Schneiter’s Riverside in Ogden.