Mica Mountain competed in Division III Golf last spring and the team took fourth place in its first season with Hudson Parker finishing in 18th place and Tyla Greenwood taking 25th. The program moved up to D-II this fall and the Thunderbolts split into a boys team and a girls team. It’s been 11 years since a golfer from the boy’s side qualified for the state tournament from Flowing Wells but the team is heading in the right direction with seniors Lex Vanderbloemen and Tanner Thornton leading the way.
Although teams need seven qualifying rounds for state, Mica Mountain is in the playoff mix with four qualifying rounds. Catalina Foothills and Ironwood Ridge appear to be safe bets to make the state tournament from Southern Arizona as a team, along with Mica Mountain. Salpointe and Cienega are also under the cut line midway through the season. Only the top 12 teams will qualify for the state tournament and Sabino and Mountain View are currently out of the playoff picture but Sabino junior Chase Pickering is the top-ranked individual not attached to a qualifying team and Mountain View senior Gabe Sendlak is also in the group of 18 individuals vying for an at large berth. Rio Rico senior Noah Castro is also currently ranked high enough.
TOP TEN D-II GOLFERS
1 Chase Cesarek, Catalina Foothills -3.6
2 Chase Pickering, Sabino -2.377
3 Ben Carr, Williams Field -2.15
4 Finn Meister, Catalina Foothills -1.6
5 Brasen Briones, Ironwood Ridge -1.4
6 Oscar Uribe, Saguaro -0.779
7 Trey Moore, Desert Mountain -0.584
8 Landon Ashcraft, Notre Dame -0.127
9 Hudson Parker, Mica Mountain -0.114
10 Ian Christoffersen, Arcadia -0.032
TOP TEN D-II TEAMS
1 Catalina Foothills -5.018
2 Ironwood Ridge -1.389
3 Notre Dame 1.691
4 Desert Mountain 3.243
5 Cactus Shadows 3.628
6 Mica Mountain 6.116
7 ALA Gilbert North 6.454
8 Saguaro 6.939
9 Salpointe 8.743
10 Arcadia 9.179
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