By Greg James |  [email protected]

An abnormal season for the Hunter girls golf team could mean success next year and in the years to come.

“Last year we had eight the year before we had six team members,” head girls golf coach Devon Cooper said. “As a girl golfer myself I know how hard it is and I did not want to turn anyone away that wanted to learn to play golf so I tried something new this year.” 

To be a varsity golfer each student must be in the class, pay extremely high fees and take intense lessons. Cooper set up a junior varsity team with less requirements hoping to encourage more participants. 

“I wanted to scoop up some underclassman, make it easier. They practiced every other day and on match day they only played nine holes. I felt like it created an environment that was less scary and less competitive,” Cooper said. 

The Wolverines ended up with 17 junior varsity and 7 varsity players. To compete in the Utah High School Activities Association girls golf meets you must have six varsity members (four players score for the team.) Some schools do not have enough interested players to field a team.

“I was grateful to The Ridge and First Tee they provided lessons at a discounted rate for my team. These girls had never held a club or even knew how to hit a ball. Much less learn and know any of the 500 rules. This sport can be overwhelming,” Cooper said.

With a full team the results improved. They finished second in region and had three individual medalists. 

“It has been a really great year for us. In past years we would finish near the bottom in sixth place at every match. This year all of the team is juniors and next year they are highly motivated,” Cooper said.

Overall the Wolverines finished in second place behind Hillcrest. They took second in their first three matches of the season and improved to first in the final four 

Peyton Newell finished fourth in the region, Mallerie Brown seventh, and Lily Brock ninth. 

“Golf is such a skill and it is individual. You cannot blame a teammate for dropping the ball or not making the basket. There are no boundaries. If you hit a bad ball you have to go find it. Sometimes a player is dealt a bad hole and you have to get through the hole,” Cooper said.

Newell has golfed for three years at Hunter. Cooper said she always tried to be her best. 

“She (Newell) was not always our best player, but she was the most consistent. Mallerie is a fierce hitter and can knock the skin off the ball. Lily is also a second-year player and has provided crucial points for our team,” Cooper said. 

Region 2 played its tournaments at Meadowbrook, Fore Lakes, Golf in the Round, Stonebridge, Glendale, The Ridge and Rose Park. The state tournament is scheduled to be held at Meadowbrook May 14-15 (after press deadline.) 

Cooper said the time the team puts into getting better is evident in their results.

“Being good at golf is the time,” Coope said. “Golf requires putting in extra time. Getting to practice early, staying late and doing the lessons. This is the first year the girls have put in some Saturdays. I think there are a couple of girls working at courses this summer. That tells me they want to be around the environment more. I am stoked.” 

Cooper is finishing her third season at Hunter as golf coach.

“We have a diverse team. We have soccer players, dance company members and drill team. This team is really trying to have fun. They are known for their courtesy which is big in golf. They pull a flag or rake a sand trap before anyone else. They are respectful and congratulate the other teams. The game is too mentally hard to be worried about smashing your opponents too,” Cooper said.