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TAYLORSVILLE — Emma Winfree walked off the 18th hole at Meadowbrook Golf Course in Taylorsville, and immediately began looking for someone.
It wasn’t one of her teammates at Corner Canyon, which clinched its second-straight Class 4A girls golf state title with a two-day total of 658 points in the modified Stableford scoring system.
Instead, Winfree looked for one of her playing partners: Alta’s Cora Mickelsen. The junior shot consecutive 68s to finish with a two-day total of 176 to claim 4A medalist honors.
And the two cousins shared a long, tear-filled embrace.
“I was getting all emotional for her,” said Winfree, who tied for third individually on her birthday. “I was super proud, and it means so much for our family.
“I don’t know why I get so emotional, but I was so happy for her and everything she’s accomplished.”
The Chargers shared the team podium with Alta, which placed second with a two-day total of 641. Bonneville was third at 611.
But for the two neighboring communities, it was like one big title.
“They border each other, and have been a great support,” said Corner Canyon coach Ryan Kartchner, the head pro at Hidden Valley Country Club that includes several Alta golf families. “We see them all over, and golf is such a tight-knit community.
“These girls are all such good friends, and it’s become that way for Alta’s program and Corner Canyon’s program.”
Bingham's Tess Blair won medalist honors to lead the Miners to the Class 5A championship at Davis Park Golf Course in Kaysville.
Winfree and Mickelsen played in the final pairing, finishing in the top four with Naomi Soifua of Provo in between them. The three-time state medalist carded 71 and 74 for a two-day total of 145 to finish second.
To finish runner-up to a consistent 68 like what Mickelsen did is no problem, either.
“My driver was going down the middle of the freeway, and that set me up for good approach shots. I made a lot of good putts for birdie, and it helped lower my score,” Mickelsen said. “I just tried to stay positive, and it turned out good.”
In addition to Winfree, Corner Canyon placed two other golfers in the top 10 in Cristi Ciasco and Jamie Connell. While the Chargers celebrated with their second-straight trophy on the 18th green at Meadowbrook, they looked around at the larger crowd of both players and supporters around them.
When Corner Canyon won the state title at Wasatch Park near Midway a year ago, their team consisted of six golfers, one other student and a handful of parents.
On Tuesday in Taylorsville, a group that came from 17 tryout golfers gathered around the Chargers’ top eight, with parents, family, teachers and faculty joining the throng.
“Those six girls went and recruited a JV class for me,” Kartchner said. “These girls did it for everybody; it’s the same core, but we’ve grown and have the experience for more girls to grow golf at Corner Canyon. It’s awesome.”
Bonneville’s Dallas Christofferson finished tied for third, and Bountiful’s Jobi Einerson and East’s Kanna Crossland were tied for fifth.
