MIDWAY — Pine View’s Noah Schone shot five birdies in his last six holes to force a tie-breaking playoff and came within a literal inch of forcing a second tie-breaking playoff hole before conceding the state championship to Juan Diego’s Michael Walters in the 3A state golf tournament Thursday at Soldier Hollow Golf Course.
Park City ran away with the team title, defeating second-place Logan by 42 strokes and third-place Pine View by 43 strokes. The Miners shot a two-day team score of 569.
Schone, who recorded a 140 for the two-day tourney, was four below par for the tournament and tied with Juan Diego’s Michael Walters (140) and Park City’s Zane Schemmer (140) during tournament play.
In order to determine a state champion, the three were faced off in a rematch of the 18th hole at Soldier Hollow. Schone found himself in trouble after teeing off and catching some rough on the left side of the fairway. He recovered enough to set himself up with a difficult, but conceivable overtime forcing putt. Schone wound up and delivered a putt appearing to be right on target.
Most of the state golf aficionados gathered around the hole collectively held their breath in anticipation as the ball approached it’s home.
“It was a crazy fast putt,” Panther head coach Brooks Bergeson said. “And we had to go through a little bit of fringe and then it was straight downhill breaking left and it probably broke four-feet left as it was coming down that hill. It straightened out at the end but then dove left, right before the hole. It looked so good, just a foot before the hole, and just leaked left just enough to miss. It was probably an inch away from going in.”
Later, an emotional Schone, who will next prepare to serve an LDS mission and has committed to play collegiate golf for Dixie State afterward, chimed in on his final tournament as a Pine View Panther.
“It’s rough,” he said. “I’ve worked every day to be in this situation and it’s tough. I couldn’t tell you how much I wanted this and all those hours of practice, but it’s worth it. Even though I took second, it was worth everything I did and I thank everyone who has helped me to get to where I am today.”
Schone finished third at state last season.
Bergeson added that while it was hard seeing Schone get so close, and his team miss out on second place by only one stroke, his boys have nothing to hang their heads about.
“It’s been a heck of a year,” he said. “I am unbelievably proud of what those boys did this year and they have put some hard work in. They work harder than anyone I know. Especially Noah, he has put some serious time in and it was tough seeing him not get that playoff. Dakota Millward (149, T-9th) also came out and played the best round of his high school career and shot two-under the second day. It’s unbelievable as he shot nine strokes better than he did yesterday. These boys have done a lot to get where they are at.”
Region 9 also had a few other schools participating in the state tournament. Desert Hills (628) finished seventh in the state after making the cut to play the second day. Will Stewart shot a 143 for DH. Dixie (319), and Hurricane (335) also played, but didn’t make the cut to play in day two of the tournament. The Flyers finished 11th in state and the Tigers finished 14th overall.
For complete results from the 3A state golf tournament click here: 3agolffinal
Noah Schone's putt during the sudden death playoff hole at the 3A State Golf Tournament at Soldier Hollow Golf Course was off by mere inches, Midway, Utah, Oct. 6, 2016 | Photo by AJ Griffin, St. George News
The top five golfers in the state, including Pine View's Noah Schone (second from left), at the 3A State Golf Tournament at Soldier Hollow Golf Course, Midway, Utah, Oct. 6, 2016 | Photo by AJ Griffin, St. George News
Pine View's Noah Schone, with coach Brooks Bergeson, size up the final putt during the sudden death playoff hole at the 3A State Golf Tournament at Soldier Hollow Golf Course, Midway, Utah, Oct. 6, 2016 | Photo by AJ Griffin, St. George News
3A State Golf Tournament at Soldier Hollow Golf Course, Midway, Utah, Oct. 6, 2016 | Photo by AJ Griffin, St. George News
Pine View's Noah Schone during the sudden death playoff hole at the 3A State Golf Tournament at Soldier Hollow Golf Course, Midway, Utah, Oct. 6, 2016 | Photo by AJ Griffin, St. George News
Pine View's Noah Schone, with coach Brooks Bergeson during the sudden death playoff hole at the 3A State Golf Tournament at Soldier Hollow Golf Course, Midway, Utah, Oct. 6, 2016 | Photo by AJ Griffin, St. George News
Pine View's Noah Schone, during the sudden death playoff hole at the 3A State Golf Tournament at Soldier Hollow Golf Course, Midway, Utah, Oct. 6, 2016 | Photo by AJ Griffin, St. George News
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