Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
SALT LAKE CITY — As the youngest child in a family full of boys, Rich High senior McKina Stacey has never had a problem competing.
That competition paid off Wednesday, when she led the Rebels' girls golf team to a remarkable performance in the state record book.
Stacey carded 93 to top the leaderboard by two strokes, helping Rich to its third consecutive Class 1A state title at Rose Park Golf Course.
The senior battled through scattered showers and strong winds during the 18-hole final in Salt Lake City to claim her second medalist honors and first under Utah High School Activities Association sanctioning after the 2020 state meet was shifted under the direction of the Utah Section PGA during the COVID-19 pandemic.
If nothing else, Stacey is a nice trump card to have on the field.
"She's clutch, man," said Rich coach Cody Lundgren, who also coaches his star point guard on the basketball court. "She's a very special player, and she's been playing this game hard. She works so hard at it, changed her swing a bit this year, and it just came together for her."
Hannah Rex finished fifth for Rich, which placed all four scoring golfers in the top 10 to run away with the team title. Ambria Lutz finished tied for seventh and Natalee Parry was 10th for the Rebels.
Milford's Analise Wiseman finished two shots behind Stacey to lead the runner-up Tigers, and Milford's Trinity Mayer was third.
"It pays dividends to these girls, how hard they work," Lundgren said of the depth of a program from a school with just 118 students in Randolph that includes several 1A powers like its volleyball program. "Practice always ends at 5:30, but a lot of these girls are still at the golf course hitting balls and practicing until 7 every night. They've worked really hard for it."
Maryam McGurty led Diamond Ranch to third place, and Ashlyn Behunin helped Pinnacle to fourth in the team standings.
Class 1A girls golf state meet
Rose Park Golf Course, Salt Lake City
Team standings
Rich 421, Milford 434, Diamond Ranch 517, Pinnacle 569.
Top-10 individuals
McKina Stacey, Rich — 93
Analise Wiseman, Milford — 95
Trinity Mayer, Milford — 100
Bethany Stout, Valley — 103
Hannah Rex, Rich — 104
Abby Schofield, Manila — 106
Morgan Bastian, Green River; Ambria Lutz, Rich — 109
Savannah Ferkin, Intermountain Christian — 112
Natalle Parry, Rich — 115
