D-I and D-II Boys Golf Preview

August 6, 2022 by Andy Morales, AZPreps365


Hamilton standout Vincent Cervantes. (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

DIVISION I BOYS

 

Hamilton lost 2020 state champion, and 2021 third place finisher, Mahanth Chirravuri to USC but the Huskies return 2021 state champion Vincent Cervantes and 2021 runner-up Anawin Pikulthong along with 2021 fourth place medalist Wyatt Chapman.

Hamilton won the last three individual titles (Johnny Walker, Chirravuri and Cervantes) to go along with the last three state championships. This year looks good for program win number 10 and the ninth trophy for head coach Steve Kanner.

Cervantes can be the first Division I or II repeat champion since Hamilton’s CJ Kim won in 2008 and 2009. The field is so stacked, there have only been nine repeat champions at the highest level since 1939.

 

TOP 20 RETURNERS

Vincent Cervantes, Jr. Hamilton (State Champion)

Anawin Pikulthong, Sr. Hamilton (State Runner-up)

Wyatt Chapman, Sr. Hamilton (State 4th Place)

Charlie Palmer, Sr. Brophy (State 4th Place)

Tyler Linam, Sr. Liberty (State 9th Place)

Dallin Delgado, Sr. Highland (State 9th Place)

Nash Arthurs, So. Liberty (State 9th Place)

Jack DeCesare, Jr. Highland (Highest Ranking)

Paul Klander, Sr. Horizon

Tyler Spielman, Jr. Brophy

Alec Hilgers, So. Brophy

Noah Kaoni, So. O'Connor

Nick Morrow, Sr. Corona del Sol

Evan Bryan, Sr. Red Mountain

Sean Moore, Jr. Red Mountain

Joe Houghton, Jr. Perry

Caeden Bolander, Sr. Desert Vista

Hudson Ross, So. Chaparral

Henry Dall, Jr. Brophy

Scottie Belgrad, So. Brophy

 

(Brasen Briones/Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

 

DIVISION II BOYS

 

Only three of the 12 medalists from last year graduated including state runner-up Rylan Johnson of Williams Field (Oregon State) so the field is wide open. Williams Field won the team title for the first time in program history but history has also shown the D-II trophy is a hard one to keep over the last three years.

Higley won its first team championship in 2019 and Cactus Shadows won in 2020 for the first time since 1999. Arcadia won in 2017 and 2018 and the team has been in top three ever since.

Look for Williams Field, Arcadia and Saguaro to battle it out this year along with Notre Dame Prep. Former Notre Dame standout Nicholas Losole III won in 2007 and 2008. He was the last D-II golfer to repeat. Ironwood Ridge standout Brasen Briones won as a sophomore in 2021.

 

TOP 20 RETURNERS

Brasen Briones, Jr. Ironwood Ridge (State Champion)

Oscar Uribe, Jr. Saguaro (State 3rd Place)

Carlos Astiazaran, Sr. Salpointe (State 4th Place/Highest Ranking)

Parker Bond, Sr. Arcadia (State 6th Place)

Finn Meister, So. Catalina Foothills (State 7th place)

Jake Myre, Sr. Sabino (State 7th Place)

Eli Asolas, Sr. Williams Field (State 9th Place)

Ben Carr, Jr. Williams Field (State 9th Place)

Jack Taylor, Jr. Notre Dame (State 9th Place)

Scotty Jackson, Sr. Prescott

Jackson McLaughlin, Jr. Notre Dame

Charlie Allen, Jr. Cactus Shadows

Jackson Rustand, Sr. Sabino

Carter Damron, Jr. Higley

Jacob Medina, Jr. Ironwood Ridge

Daniel Rowe, Jr. Notre Dame

Luke Padilla, Jr. Seton Catholic

Henry Shepard, Sr. Saguaro

Jayden Schmitz, Jr. Ironwood Ridge

Jack Peters, Sr. Arcadia