Canyon Del Oro has won its first boys golf championship in more than 20 years.
The Dorados, led by individual titlist Gentry Hicks, shot a collective 7-under-par 581 to defeat rival Catalina Foothills by 13 strokes Friday and Saturday, capturing the Division II crown over 36 holes at Randolph Golf Course.
Hicks, a senior, finished at three-under 141, with rounds of 71 and 70, edging sophomore teammate Jaime Waltmire, the first-day leader and second-place finisher in the individual chase.
All five Dorados contributed to the win. In the format, five play each day, and the four lowest scores count toward the team score. Hicks, Waltmire and juniors DJ Niichel and Logan France posted scores on Friday. Tom Olla joined in Saturday.
"Truly, we needed everybody to do the job," CDO Coach John Farbarik said. "We played better Friday than we did Saturday."
Hicks "didn't feel like he was playing very well," Farbarik said. "He didn't feel like he could make a putt all tournament."
But Hicks birdied the final two holes Saturday to grab the crown and finish his career in style.
"When he was a freshman, he was battling to try to be in the starting lineup," Farbarik said of Hicks. "He's improved 14, 15 shots from the time he was a freshman."
Hicks has been on a tear, winning three invitationals and the state title.
"I don't know I've seen a high school golfer have the kind of stretch he had in the month of October," Farbarik said. "He's been virtually unbeatable. That's why I believe he's the player of the state." Waltmire, leading after the first day, shot a 36-hole score of 143.
"For being so young and playing so well is wonderful," Farbarik said.
Waltmire ran into a triple-bogey on the 10th hole Saturday.
"That can break people," Farbarik said. "Instead, he held it firm and ended up getting another shot back, and was one under the rest of the way out. I can't say enough about how mature he is, and how he makes those good decisions on the golf course. He has a chance to be very, very good."
Hicks says "'Jaime is going to rewrite all my records. That'll be fun to watch,'" Farbarik said.
The last Dorado team title came in 1979-'80. Hicks' individual crown is the eighth in school history. Travis "T.J." Graves took the honors three years ago.
Foothills won the team crown over CDO a season ago.
"I would imagine the two of our teams and several others are going to be battling for it again" in 2011, Farbarik said. "There's a friendly rivalry there, for sure. This year was our year."
