Song helps fill the void, paces golf victory

 Ivy Song was looking for a relaxing round of golf on Wednesday (Sept. 1) when Xavier Prep faced Chandler Basha at the Phoenix Country Club.

Song, a senior who usually is one of the top two players on the coaches’ top five player lists for most matches (scores of those players count toward the team score), was happy to see junior Annie Dawson in the top spot.

But Dawson was having a health issue and could not play. Co-head coach Tui Selvaratnam had to move quickly and decided to slip Song into that spot.

“It was a bit more tense, so I had to make sure I was focused,’’ Song said.

Song came up with a solid round, finishing with a 1-under par 35 to grab medalist honors for the Gators. As a team, the Gators shot a 3-over 147, far outdistancing the visiting Bears, who were at 214 (+70).

Xavier finished second over the weekend in a tournament at the Papago Golf Course in Phoenix. Song admitted she could have played better, particularly with her drives.

She worked on her drives during practice on Tuesday (Aug. 31) and said that helped her against Basha.

Selvaratnam was pleased that XCP was able to come back and play better in this one.

Next up for the Gators is the Ping Invitational tournament on Friday (Sept. 3) and Saturday (Sept. 4) at the Wigwam Golf Course in Litchfield Park (west Valley).

Xavier scores vs. Basha

*Top 5 selectee

*Ivy Song (Sr.) 35 (-1), Kate Ryan (Sr.) 35 (-1), *Kalyn Doss (So.) 36 (even), *Jayden Jevnick (So.) 36 (even), Kate Hauptman (So.) 36 (even), Lena Durette (So.) 39 (+3), Kyla Layman (So.) 40 (+4), Ava Mayberger (Sr.) 41 (+5), Lauren Campbell (So.) 41 (+5), Reimi Bleyl (So.) 42 (+6) *Grace Rubelsky (So.) 42 (+6).

Carrie Doss (Fr.) 43 (+7), Sophie Stamatis (Jr.) 44 (+8), Audrey Sanchez (Sr.) 44 (+8), Karter Nannen (So.) 45 (+9), Jordan Weinberg (So.) 53 (+17), Aanvi Goel (Fr.) 58 (+22).