SUNRISE REGION: Gators feast after Kaui shoots an eagle
When a weekend duffer bounces an eagle into the cup from 110 yards away, they’re best described as extremely lucky.
When a strong player like Green Valley’s Alex Kaui does it on her second shot at the par-4 14th hole of the 4A Sunrise Region tournament, she is simply putting an exclamation point on a dominant performance.
Kaui’s 3-under 68 blew away the field Thursday at Bear’s Best, spearheading the Gators to an especially sweet Sunrise championship.
After falling short last year for the first time in school history, Green Valley moves on to next week’s 4A State Tournament at Boulder Creek in Boulder City after besting second-place Coronado by 57 shots (317-374). The Cougars also advanced, holding off third-place Silverado by five strokes.
For Kaui, who won this summer’s Butch Harmon Tournament of Champions against some of the region’s best junior golfers, the region win came down to solid play off the tee and from the fairway. Kaui added birdies on the sixth and eighth holes and carded only a single bogey as she put up the only red number of the tournament.
“My hitting was here today,” Kaui said. “I was able to get on the green and my putting’s been up for a while.”
Gators coach Greg Murphy said that Kaui is a dangerous player — especially in perfect scoring conditions like Thursday’s warm, windless weather.
“She’s been so consistent all year,” Murphy said. “She’s an outstanding player.”
Green Valley performed well from top to bottom. Jenny Hahn, the Gators’ usual No. 1 player, finished second at 73. Kristen Hsu shot 83 and Emily Schroeder posted 93 for the Gators’ final qualifying score, but even Diandra Robinson (97) and Sarah D’Errico (99) put up respectable numbers.
Silverado’s Brittany Whatley shot 78 to place third and Almira Wilborn of Canyon Springs finished fourth with a 79. Coronado’s Melanie Chambers (80) and Emily Stephens (81) took fifth and sixth place, respectively.
Whatley and Wilborn move on to state as individuals, along with Silverado’s Tameka Demps (88), Basic’s Jamie Donizio (88) and Tech’s Hilary Pauli (92).