CLASS 4A: State champion Kaui claims player of year honors

Early in the season, it wasn’t always easy to spot Green Valley’s No. 1 golfer.

The Gators’ roster included the state champion in Class 4A and the runners-up in Classes 2A and 4A.

By the end of year, it was clear that Alex Kaui wasn’t only the top golfer on her team — she was the top Class 4A golfer in the state.

Kaui was named the Las Vegas Player of the Year by the Southern Nevada Golf Coaches Association.

The sophomore won the Sunrise Region tournament, then shot a blistering opening-round 8-under-par 64 on her way to the state title.

Her efforts, along with those of teammates Jenny Hahn and Sarah Thomas, helped Green Valley win the state team title by 90 strokes.

Hahn, the runner-up in the state meet and the state champion in 2009, and Thomas were named to the All-Las Vegas first team.

They were joined by Faith Lutheran’s Brianna Becker and Annie Freman, and Arbor View’s Alyssa Ballew and Kiley Ballew.

Named to the second team were: Bishop Gorman’s Nicolette Rivera, Canyon Springs’ Taylor Candley, Coronado’s Melanie Chambers, Eldorado’s Angie Pitaksarp, Silverado’s Brittany Whatley and Spring Valley’s Julia Graham.

Class 4A Girls
All-Las Vegas
First Team

Jenny Hahn, Green Valley; Brianna Becker, Faith Lutheran; Annie Freman, Faith Lutheran; Kiley Ballew, Arbor View; Sarah Thomas, Green Valley; Alyssa Ballew, Arbor View.
Player of the Year: Alex Kaui, Green Valley

Second Team

Angie Pitaksarp, Eldorado; Nicolette Rivera, Gorman; Taylor Candley, Canyon Springs; Brittany Whatley, Silverado; Melanie Chambers, Coronado; Julia Graham, Spring Valley.

All-Sunrise Region
First Team

Hahn, Green Valley; Thomas, Green Valley; Pitaksarp, Eldorado; Candley, Canyon Springs; Whatley, Silverado; Chambers, Coronado.
Player of the Year: Kaui, Green Valley
Coaches of the Year: Greg Murphy, Green Valley; Brent Becker, Tech

Second Team

Jamie Donzio, Basic; Olivia Greenwald, Coronado; Kristen Hsu, Green Valley; Hilary Pauli, Tech; Courtney Hagen, Basic.

All-Sunset Region
First Team

Freman, Faith Lutheran; Kiley Ballew, Arbor View; Alyssa Ballew, Arbor View; Rivera, Gorman; Graham Spring Valley; Darlene Raymond, Desert Oasis.
Player of the Year: Becker, Faith Lutheran
Coach of the Year: David Fish, Arbor View

Second Team

Kelly Horrell, Gorman; Allie Arguello, Gorman; JoJo Tice, Gorman; Kellie Busse, Cimarron-Memorial; Sarah Paravia, Faith Lutheran; Katie DeJesus, Gorman.

All-Northeast League

Candley, Canyon Springs; Pitaksarp, Eldorado; Jaimaca Price, Canyon Springs; Caylie Cook, Canyon Springs; Sierra Smith, Canyon Springs.

All-Southeast League

Donzio, Basic; Hagen, Basic; Chambers, Coronado; Greenwald, Coronado; Hahn, Green Valley; Hsu, Green Valley; Kaui, Green Valley; Thomas, Green Valley; Pauli, Tech; Whatley, Silverado; Taylor Fjelland, Coronado; Amy Ruelas, Foothill.

All-Northwest League

Alyssa Ballew, Arbor View; Kiley Ballew, Arbor View; Busse, Cimarron; Becker, Faith Lutheran; Freman, Faith Lutheran; Shaylee Hollan, Arbor View; Charise Chyz, Centennial; Arianna Bryant, Cimarron; Aspen Bryant, Cimarron; Sarah Paravia, Faith Lutheran; Julia Pilarski, Palo Verde; Kellie Watkins, Palo Verde.

All-Southwest League

Arguello, Gorman; DeJesus, Gorman; Horrell, Gorman; Rivera, Gorman; Tice, Gorman; Raymond, Desert Oasis; Graham, Spring Valley; Melissa Cayne, Gorman; Rebekah Binderim, Pahrump; Sierra Fitzgibbons, Pahrump; Alyssa Wilson, Spring Valley.