D-I boys golf: Desert Vista, SDO's Noah Robinson win titles

November 8, 2016 by Les Willsey, AZPreps365


Desert Vista turned up the heat on the back nine Tuesday afternoon to snare the school's first boys golf title while Sandra Day O'Connor senior Noah Robinson was superb both days in securing medalist  honors at the Division I Golf Tournament at Grand Canyon University Golf Course.

Desert Vista's Davis Evans and Tyler Svendson led the Thunder's rally by shooting 66 and 68, respectively, in the final round. Their efforts led the Thunder and coach Matt Russo's squad, to an 9-under total of 559. Hamilton (567) was second, Sandra Day O'Connor (569) third, Chaparral (571) fourth and Perry (576) fifth. Solid final rounds by Desert Vista teammates Brian Seo (70) and Scott Schadler (74) helped secure the first-place trophy. The Thunder's No. 5 golfer, Gavin Chan, improved his first-round score by seven shots. Desert Vista's 6-under, second round was the best of any round in the tournament. Desert Vista finished runner-up from 2009-2012 in their previous top finishes. Hamilton nabbed second place thanks to an 18th-hole eagle by Nick Hedman.

In the battle for medalist, Robinson turned on the after-burners on the back nine with three birdies in the final five holes to pull away from a tie with Hamilton's Mason Andersen and win going away by three shots. Robinson was 9-under for the tournament -- a first-round 66 that gave him the lead after the first round and a final-round 67. He carded only two birdies the entire tournament -- one each round. Robinson finished tied for 18th last year.

Rounding out the top-10 finishers: Hamilton's Andersen, Chaparral's Jack Whisler  and Brophy's Tony Hendricks, -5 tie for fourth; Campo Verde's Branden Meyer and Chaparral's Tom Katsenes, -4 tie for 7th; and Boulder Creek's Mason Domecq and Sandra Day O'Connor's Caden Weber, -3 tie for 9th.