Xavier's Madison Kerley has been fortunate enough to play in four Division I state girls golf tournaments competing for state golf powerhouse Xavier Prep. She played well in her first three in 2011, 2012 and 2013, but was superb in her finale.

Kerley saved her best for last shooting a 6-under par 66 Friday to take medalist honors for the first time and lead Xavier to the team title at Aguila Golf Course in Laveen.

Kerley, the only senior competing this year among Xavier's state-tournament contingent, held a one-shot lead over steadfast Kelly Su of Chaparral through 14 holes of the final round. Kerley pulled away by fashioning consecutive birdies on 15, 16 and 17 to increase her lead to four shots with one hole to play. It was a good thing as Su birdied the final two holes to finish at -4. Kerley registered a par on the final hole to help fend off Su. Kerley concluded state tournament competition with four top-10 finishes. She placed 5th as a freshman, 7th as a sophomore and third as a junior.

Xavier's team title was its fourth in a row and 32nd in the last 35 years dating back to 1980. Xavier's team Thursday and Friday was comprised of one senior, two juniors and two sophomores who combined to shoot 9-under par for the tournament. That was 35 shots better than runner-up Pinnacle. Xavier was 11-under as a team in the final round. Rounding out the top five teams were Ironwood Ridge, Chaparral and Millennium. Xavier was 11-under as a team in the final round.

Kerley's Xavier teammates were outstanding as well as their score indicated. Behind Kerley from Xavier were first-round leader Alisa Snyder, 1-under (143); Emily Mahar, even par (144); Mikayla Fitzpatrick, even par (144) and Elizabeth Caldarelli, 7-over (151). The rest of the top 10 individuals behind Kerley and Su: Snyder, Mahar, Fiztpatrick, Ironwood Ridge's Sydney Colwill (145), Deer Valley's Jordyn Deardorff (147), Pinnacle's Ocean Pangan (147),  Mountain Pointe's Lauren Blumears (148) and Pinnacle's Megan Knadler (149).