Other Xavier
teams will follow suit in the coming weeks as many students will return to
classes at the school on Sept. 8, the day after Labor Day. Students will choose
one of three options for their academics, full-time on campus, a split schedule
with part-time campus and part-time online, and full-time online as they have
been doing.
Xavier has
been doing this golf thing for many years and doing it well, and this year’s
team certainly appears to be capable of challenging for the school’s 37th
state championship.
One of the
team leaders is junior Ivy Song, who took medalist honors against Horizon with
a 1-under-par 35. But she was not the lowest Gator of the day.
That
distinction went to a young freshman who was not among the players who figured
into the final team scoring total (this is capable of changing with every
match). Perhaps after her 5-under 31, Kyla Layman may come closer to being a
front-line fixture.
“Everybody
congratulated her (Layman). That’s the sign of a great team to support her the
way they supported her,’’ said XCP co-head coach and Athletic Director Sr. Lynn
Winsor.
Song is
showing the consistency that surfaced in her first two years, particularly as a
sophomore.
The other
three players contributing to the 148-stroke team total (four of five eligible players
score) in this match were sophomore Annie Dawson (even-par 36), senior and
Lauren Garcia (2-over 38) and freshman Jayden Jevnick (3-over 39).
Makenna
Cabardo (36) was the top finisher for Horizon, which was at 172.
Players moved
about the course in the traditional electric golf carts, which normally are not
allowed. This rule was relaxed because of the heat, with the temperature
eclipsing 110.
Xavier’s
girls followed school protocol while preparing to play. They wore masks,
although not during their round (before and after). Temperatures were taken
when they arrived at the course. The girls had a daily symptom check on their
cell phones. Their hands and arms were sanitized. And, of course, they made certain they had the
proper hydration.
“It was a
good start, a good beginning for us,’’ Winsor said. “Tui (co-head coach Tui
Selvaratnam) and I are very pleased. We played some very good golf under some
horrid conditions.’’
Xavier’s
next match will be on Monday (Aug. 31) against Glendale Mountain Ridge at the
Legend Golf Resort (Glendale Arrowhead). The Gators will return to Phoenix CC
on Sept. 2 to face Chandler Basha.
XAVIER SCORES
Xavier
148, Horizon 172
*Contributing
to team total
Kyla Layman
31, *Ivy Song 35, *Annie Dawson 36, Kalyn Doss 36, Lauren Campbell 36, Mary
Beth Doss 38, *Lauren Garcia 38, *Jayden Jevnick 39, Lena Durette 40, Katie
Hauptman 42, Kate Ryan 42, Ava Mayberger 43, Audrey Sanchez 43, Grace Rubelsky
45, Karter Nannen 45, Sophie Stamatis 50.