D-I boys golf: Hamilton's Park medals in 4-way playoff

November 5, 2015 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


One couldn't have scripted a tighter outcome for the 2015 Division I boys state golf tournament. A 4-player playoff for medalist honors and a one-shot victory for the winner in the team-title chase.

All that happened Thursday on a cool, but gorgeous day at Aguila Golf Club in Laveen. The medalst -- winning in astonishing style -- was Hamilton's Trueman Park. Park prevailed on the third sudden-death playoff hole by knocking in a short chip for eagle. Desert Mountain edged Brophy by one shot for the team title -- a battle just as close as the skirmish for medalist bragging right.

Park qualified for the playoff by sinking a short birdie putt on 18 and two holes into the playoff stayedi contention knocking home a long putt to save par. Park's steady, solid round was one for the history books particularly with his play those final four holes.

"I was just trying to do my best the last few holes," Park said. "I knew I needed to make up a shot the last hole and fortunately I was able to do that."

Park, a junior, battled Desert Mountain's David Ricciardelli and Matt McCarty and Brophy's Michael Feagles after the quartet finished tied for first at 5-under par.

Park had the lead through 14 holes, but a rare bad shot cost him a bogey at No. 15 and put him in come-from-behind mode. Through 14 holes Park had five birdies and a 3-under round that allowed him to lead the pack. Park was at -4 heading to the 18th hole, one shot out of second and two from first. He knocked in a birdie at 18  to move to -5 and into a second-place tie with Ricciardelli and McCarty.

They all trailed Feagles, who heading to 18 had blazed a trail to the lead with a 6-under par total for the day and tournament. Feagles birdied 17 to have the lead to himself. However, Feagles three-putted for bogey on 18 to fall back in a tie with the other three and a playoff ensued.

The playoffs began at the 10th hole where Park Riccciardelli and Feagles birdied the par 5. McCarty was eliminated settling for a par. The players moved to No. 18 for the next hole and Ricciardelli and Feagles carded routine pars. Park was in peril after his birdie putt attempt rolled about 10 feet past the hole. He cooly sank the putt to stay alive.

The best for Park was yet to come -- again in comeback mode. Park didn't hit a crisp tee shot as the trio went back to play the par 5 10th again. He was well behind Ricciardelli and Feagles in distance. Park's second shot was solid, leaving him about about five yards short of the green and perhaps 25 feet from the hole. Feagles second shot rested deep and just off the green and Ricciardelli left himself an 18-foot putt for eagle. Feagles third shot -- a chip -- lipped out and left him a short biride attempt. That shot wasn't needed. Park was up next and punched his chip in tightly against the flag.  Ricciardelli still had a chance to tie, but his eagle putt settled wide right giving Park the victory after six hours plus of competition.

Desert Mountain's team title came courtesy of the combined play of Ricciardelli, McCarty, Chase Wicklund, Justin Terry and Michael Drolet. Brophy's runner-up team members are Feagles, Reed Porter, Chip Getz, Tim Heslin and Ryan Metzler.

Rounding out the top individuals behind the four playoff entrants were:  Buena's Briggs Duce fifth at -2; a three-way tie for sixth among Sandra Day O'Connor's Caden Weber, Highland's Brock Goyen and Mountain Ridge's Brian Seo at -1 and a three-way tie for ninth among Pinnacle's Isaac Spillum, Horizon's Danny Johnson and Thunderbird's Jake Chanen.