Beaver’s bid for a seventh straight 2A boys golf state championship isn’t quite such a foregone conclusion like most of the previous six years.
Rowland Hall is the Day 1 leader after Wednesday’s first round at Glendale Golf Course in Salt Lake City after the Winged Lions shot a 305 team score. Beaver is just two strokes back at 307, while South Sevier is certainly within striking distance as well after shooting a 313.
A year ago at Mountain View Golf Course, Beaver had a seven stroke lead after Day 1 and ended up running away with its sixth straight state title with a 36-stroke cushion.
In the five years prior, Beaver’s championship winning margins were 57, 68, 115, 92 and 11.
The last time a team other than Beaver won the 2A state title was Grand in 2016. Since then, Beaver has won six straight, which is tied with Highland (1965-170) and Waterford (1965-1970) for the third-longest streaks in state history.
If Beaver can rally in Day 2 to win the 2023 state title, it would tie Richfield (1977-1983) for the second-longest consecutive championship streak in boys golf state history at seven. The state record is 11 straight, held by Park City (2008-2018).
Rowland Hall jumped out to the Day 1 lead paced by senior Matt Siegal, who shot a 2-under 70, and senior Kelton Ferriter, who shot a 2-over 74.
Siegal is just one stroke back of Grand senior Wyatt Toney in the chase for 2A medalist after Toney shot a 3-under 69. After an up-and-down Front 9 for Toney, as he recorded three bogeys, two birdies and an eagle, Toney settled down with seven pars and two birdies on the Back 9.
Toney finished tied for third at the 3A state tournament a year ago. Siegal tied for third in 2A a year ago. They’re the front runners to get over the hump and claim individual glory on Thursday.
Beaver was led by Sky Moon on Wednesday as he shot an even-par 72. Teammate Mace Robinson shot a 3-over 75 and is currently inside the top 10.
A year ago, Moon finished in second place, one of three Beaver golfers who finished inside the top 10 as they were catalyst to the state championship. Those other top 10 finishers were seniors, as this year the Beavers are relying on a new crop of golfers to lead the program to another
Class 2A state tournament
At Glendale Golf Course
Team scores (Day 1)
- 305 — Rowland Hall
- 307 — Beaver
- 313 — South Sevier
- 321 — Grand
- 329 — Parowan
- 330 — Waterford
- 335 — North Summit
- 338 — Millard
Individual leaders (Top 20)
- 69 - Wyatt Toney (So.), Grand
- 69 - Matt Siegal (So.), Rowland Hall
- 72 - Jex Jones (So.), Enterprise
- 72 - Sky Moon (So.), Beaver
- 74 - Derk Memmott (Fr), Millard
- 74 - Kelton Ferriter (So), Rowland Hall
- 75 - McKay Pace (Fr), Parowan
- 75 - Mace Robinson (So), Beaver
- 75 - Keegan Johnson (Fr), South Sevier
- 76 - Bradley Woolstenhulme (Fr), North Summit
- 77 - Tyler Massey (Fr), Parowan
- 77 - Nate Kanter (So), Rowland Hall
- 78 - Harrison Thomas (So), Waterford
- 78 - Madsen Varner (Fr), Rowland Hall
- 78 - Kavin Oakden (Fr), Beaver
- 78 - Jamen Memmott (Fr), South Sevier
- 79 - Steele Vernon (So), North Summit
- 80 - Will Stender III (Fr), Waterford
- 80 - Ayden Nielsen (Fr), South Sevier
- 80 - Gunner Sorensen (So), South Sevier
- 80 - Kale Glover (So), Kanab