Kwon shoots 39 to lead Rams in triangular match

The golf season is only in its second week, but Edward Kwon is already one-fifth of the way to qualifying for the state tournament.

The Maricopa High School golfer shot a nine-hole score of 39 in the Rams’ triangular match Tuesday against Phoenix Camelback and host Casa Grande at Dave White Municipal Golf Course.

Maricopa posted a team score of 210 to place second behind Casa Grande, which finished at 171. Camelback’s team score was 241.

Kwon’s 3-over-par round meets the Arizona Interscholastic Association’s new criteria to be a target qualifying score for the Division II state tournament, which will take place Oct. 29-30 at Randolph Golf Course in Tucson. Under the AIA’s qualifying system that has been implemented for this school year, a player can earn a berth in the state tournament as an individual by shooting five target scores during the regular season.

“So he has one down, four to go,” Maricopa coach Mike Russoniello said about Kwon.

Target scores for state tournament qualification are calculated according to an AIA formula that incorporates golf course rating and varies by tournament division. To achieve an individual target score in Division II boys’ competition, a player must shoot a number equal to or better than the sum of the course rating plus 4. The 3,166-yard, par-36 front nine at Dave White Municipal has a course rating of 35.3, meaning that a Division II player must shoot a 39 or better to achieve credit for an individual target score.

Target scores for teams are calculated by using the same type of formula, which for Division II is figured by multiplying the course rating by 4, and then adding 18. A boys team can qualify for the state tournament by shooting five target team scores over the course of the regular season.

For both individuals and teams, the five target scores necessary for state-tournament qualification must be shot on at least two different courses.

Tuesday’s match in Casa Grande was played in varying weather conditions. Cloudy skies at the start gave way to a brief rain shower. When the precipitation and accompanying wind subsided, the remainder of the round was played in sunshine and late-summer desert heat.

“The wind, the rain, the humidity, all those were a factor,” Russoniello said. “That was tough, but they blocked it out. They finished their match and wound up with one qualifying score. That’s a good start.”

In addition to Kwon’s 39, the Rams got scores of 52 from Fernando Estrada, 55 from Joe Hendrix and 64 from Niles Getz.

Casa Grande’s Mason Mercer shot a 37 to take medalist honors. Josh Calvert fired a 38 for the Cougars, who also had scores of 46 from Mitchel Conley and 50 from Jack Gaffney.

“I’m pretty happy with what we shot today, being this early in the season,” Casa Grande coach Tim Leuthauser said.

Joey Heath led Camelback with a score of 49.

The match was Maricopa’s third of the season, following third-place finishes in home triangular events at Southern Dunes against Gilbert Higley and Gilbert Mesquite on Aug. 31 and against Mesa Dobson and Mesa Mountain View on Thursday.

“There were little victories throughout each one, personal accomplishments, personal bests that each of the golfers were proud of,” Russoniello said. “That’s a positive. But what we realize is that in between now and the end of the season we have new goals that we want to start achieving.”

The Rams will travel to Rolling Hills Golf Course to play Tempe this Thursday before returning to Southern Dunes to host Florence Poston Butte and Camelback on Tuesday.

Photo by Tom Kessler