Golf: James Mackie wins D3 championship and leads Valley Christian to another title

May 8, 2019 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


(Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

(James Mackie/Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

Valley Christian standout James Mackie shot a 4-under-par 69 in the second round of the Division III state championship, held Tuesday on the Catalina Course of the Omni Tucson National, to capture his second state championship. The senior started the day three shots back of Yuma Catholic standout Alexandria Schmuck but he was able to close the gap at the turn.

Mackie finished with a 1-under 145 to finish four shots ahead of Scottsdale Prep’s Davis Johnson (76-73 149) and Schmuck came in third (73-78 151) for the second year in a row.

(Davis Johnson/Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

@vctrojans James Mackie wins his second state championship. Will be playing for Cal Baptist next year #AzPreps365 pic.twitter.com/BnA20UYOaa

— Andy Morales (@AZPreps365Andy) May 9, 2019

Mackie won the championship as a freshman in 2016 and he took second place last year. Former Estrella Foothills standout Sarah Freeman captured the spring championship in 2007 and Schmuck came close to being the second girl to win a D-III title and she will return for her senior season. Johnson will be a junior.

@YumaCatholic Alexandria Schmunk led the field for most of the D3 tournament. Back-to-back third place finishes for the junior #AzPreps365 pic.twitter.com/BsZwCk2gEZ

— Andy Morales (@AZPreps365Andy) May 9, 2019

As a team, Valley Christian brought home the second championship in a row and the sixth since 2013. A runner-up finish to Northwest Christian in 2017 broke up the streak of championships for the Trojans. The program also has state championship in 2005.

(Alexandra Schmunk/Andy Morales/AZPreps36.com)

 

FREE TOURNAMENT PHOTOS HERE

 

TOP TEN FINISHERS

1 James Mackie, Valley Christian 76-69 145: -1

2 Davis Johnson, Scottsdale Prep 76-73 149 +3

3 Alexandria Schmunk, Yuma Catholic 73-78 151 +5

4 RJ Wright III, Bisbee 76-76 152 +6

4 Simon Trebon, Northland Prep 77-75 152 +6

4 Caleb Scarlett, Thatcher 75-77 152 +6

7 Jordan Grasis, Yuma Catholic 77-76 152 +7

7 Nicklaus Ummel, Scottsdale Christian 77-76 +7

9 Matthew Bernthal, Arizona Lutheran 80-76 +10

9 Rayce Mathews, Payson 79-77 +10

(Snowflake/Andy Morales/AZPreps365.com)

 

TEAM RESULTS

1 Valley Christian +48 632

2 Snowflake +76

3 Scottsdale Prep +88

4 Thatcher +90

5 Yuma Catholic +103

6 Fountain Hills +115

7 Blue Ridge +119

8 Northland Prep +125

9 Phoenix Country Day +127

10 Arete Prep +128

11 Pusch Ridge +154

12 Arizona College Prep +155

13 Payson +156

14 Arizona Lutheran +162

15 Bisbee +184