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MIDWAY — Two-time defending Class 4A girls golf state medalist Naomi Soifua knew she had work to do if she wanted a three-peat Tuesday afternoon at Wasatch Mountain Golf Course.
Bountiful’s Jobi Einerson started the day with a five-stroke lead, and Soifua went out and shot the same score as Monday’s opening round — a pair of 72s for a two-day total of 144.
But it turned out to be just enough.
Soifua edged past Einerson on a 19th-hole playoff to clinch her third-straight individual state title during the 4A state tournament.
“All the hard work I’ve put into this game, it gives me satisfaction that it has paid off,” said Soifua, a junior who has committed to BYU. “Everything was just rushing. My mind was going crazy right then.”
Corner Canyon won its first UHSAA team title with a two-day total of 652 in the modified Stableford scoring system. The Chargers, who previously had only won state titles in drama and non-sanctioned boys lacrosse.
But it was enough for the young Chargers, who rely on three sophomores and a freshman, to clinch the win over second-place Bountiful (619) and Alta (602). Two-time defending state champion Provo finished fourth (598) followed by Orem (583) and Bonneville (573).
“It’s awesome. I can’t express how exciting it us for both me and the girls,” Corner Canyon coach Ken Smikahl said. “We’ve been close in a couple of other sports, and for the girls to step up is great. We’re young; we have a bunch of sophomores and a freshman out there. So this is really exciting to see them step up when the pressure is on.”
Freshman Jamie Connell led Corner Canyon with a 152, good enough for fifth place overall. East’s Kanna Crosland was fourth with a two-day 150, and Springville’s Lydia Austin finished sixth at 155.
The only thing left to decide at the end of the day was medalist honors, and Soifua took control of that early. The veteran golfer smacked her tee shot to the left edge of the fairway — a perfect position because she admittedly wasn’t hitting as well as she liked from the middle — while Einerson sliced her opening drive into a tree on the right side of the course.
Soifua dropped her approached shot about 15 feet above the hole, and only need to two-putt for par after Einerson’s approach skimmed the grass short of the green.
Still, the aggressive Bulldog leader nearly holed out for birdie before tapping in for an easy par and her third individual championship.
“I already had the feeling that I would be in second,” said Soifua, who waited nearly an hour in the clubhouse for Einerson’s final group to finish play. “I didn’t think I had a chance at first place, because (Jobi) did so well.”
The wait, it turns out, was entirely worth it for Corner Canyon, as well.
Class 4A
Naomi Soifua, Provo 72-72 144*
Jobi Einerson, Bountiful 67-77 144
Cora Mickelson, Alta 72-76 148
Kanna Crosland, East 72-78 150
Jamie Connell, Corner Canyon 77-75 152
Lydia Austin, Springville 80-75 155
*Individual medalist on 19th-hole tiebreaker
Team scores (modified Stableford scoring)
Corner Canyon 652; Bountiful 619; Alta 602; Provo 598; Orem 583; Bonneville 573; East 566; Uintah 566; Judge Memorial 554; Springville 539.
Class 5A
Individual scoring
Laura Gerner, Davis 69-71 140
Carissa Graft, Bingham 72-72 144
Jessica Sloot, Davis 72-73 145
Tess Blair, Bingham 71-76 147
Masina Kaohelaulii, Lone Peak 70-83 149
Lauren Taylor, Lone Peak 77-74 151
Alina Vannarath, Westlake 75-77 152
Maddie Moss, Lone Peak 83-76 159
Abbey Porter, Lone Peak 78-81 159
Allie Newell, Copper Hills 81-78 159
Team scoring (modified Stableford scoring)
Lone Peak 678; Bingham 675; Davis 655; Fremont 583; Weber 568; Pleasant Grove 564; Copper Hills 562
“I knew going in that we had a good group of girls, and a freshman, Jamie Connell, who plays all the time. She showed up and played really well today,” Smikahl said. “She had a great round, especially for a ninth-grader who had that much pressure on her.”
Class 5A
At Midway, Masina Kaohelaulii carded a two-day 149 to finish in fifth place individually and lead Lone Peak to its first girls golf state championship earlier Tuesday.
Davis’ Laura Gerner took medalist honors with a two-day 140. Bingham’s Clarissa Graft was second at 144, followed by Davis’ Jessica Sloot (145) and Bingham’s Tess Blair (147).
The Knights showcased their depth with Lauren Taylor, Maddie Moss and Abbey Porter also finishing in the top eight individually to clinch the championship on modified Stableford scoring.
