Senior Abby Lewis and sophomore Lizzie Rhodes return for a young Davis High golf team and will be counted on heavily by new head coach Mikey Jerman for their leadership on the course this season. 

Jerman is also expecting contributing play from senior Sophie Seeley and junior Chloe Cook for the young Darts squad. “I’ve also got a handful of others with a lot of potential that I can’t wait to see get out on the course,” Jerman said. “Everyone has a solid, athletic swing and a great attitude.”

Jerman, who is also currently the boys golf coach at Clearfield High, has been golfing since she was four years old. She stayed with the game through two years playing at North Idaho College and now as she is currently working on qualifying school for the Professional Golfers of America. She is also an assistant and junior golf instructor at Oakridge Country Club.

“Because of time, I only played about 10 rounds of golf last year. I don’t do a lot of practicing or playing,” she said. “The way I work on my own stuff and keep me on my game is with the little drills I do with my team.”

She was heavily involved in basketball and softball growing up and had a variety of coaches along the way. “I want to be the adult I had in my life as a coach,” Jerman said.

Jerman’s coaching philosophy focuses not only on the fundamentals of the game, but the mental aspect as well. “I want to help the girls keep their composure on the golf course and stay confidence in themselves,” she said. “I want them to constantly believe that the most important shot is the next one.”

Also on the DHS team this season are juniors Anna Harkness, Abigail Florence and Erika Haddon; sophomores Haley Merrill and Tressa Zaugg; and freshmen Aubree Tanner, Audrey Greenberg and Sarah Dastrup.

“I'm really excited to have the opportunity to build with these girls throughout their high school golf careers and to see what sort of tournament team we bring to matches this season,” Jerman said.“I’m excited to build and see what we can do here.”

The start of the Region 1 golf season has already been delayed with coaches and players hopeful that a March 22 date at Remuda will get things going. Other scheduled matches are at Davis Park March 23, The Bluff March 27, Glen Eagle March 30, Davis Park April 13, The Barn April 17 and Valley View April 20 with the region tournament slated for April 25 at Eagle Mountain.

Farmington

Senior Sydney Richards, who will be playing collegiate golf at Southern Virginia University next year, along with senior Maura Hawkes, who will also be playing at the next level, have been Farmington’s lowest scorers during their entire high school careers. They return with six other seniors to the Phoenix program this spring who are hoping to improve on two top-10 finishes the past two seasons.

“They are looking forward to getting to play and hopefully have an amazing, successful season to finish off their high school career,” said head coach Stephanie Belnap. “It has been such an incredible journey for these eight seniors. They have worked hard, played in some of the toughest conditions, and cheered each other on.”

Belnap will also look to Gretchen Davis, Eden Page, Tennessee Lawrence and Maddie Baugh to help complete and add depth in their lineup. “They have helped in the past and I know if they work hard and believe in themselves, they will have a lot of success,” Belnap said. “We also have a few youngsters that have joined the team that with some fine-tuning they will be really good for our team in the upcoming years!”

Belnap said a focus for her team is “positive self-talk and belief” which will benefit her players on and off the course.

Also on the FHS squad this season who will compete in Region 1 are Kenzie Baron, Ellie Baugh, Brooke Belnap, Brooke Brown, Brinklee Bradshaw, Sydney Bowang, Stella Chappell, Sophie Clegg, Kate Dewsnup, Carrington Hendry, Claire Norton, Stella Poulson, Taya Rich and Ruby Starling.

“We have a lot of experience and we are hungry for a great season,” said coach Belnap. “We are looking for a great showing at region and at the state tournament.”

Bountiful

Senior Holland Staker and junior Breea Patterson have been mainstays on the varsity squad their entire high school careers and return to again lead Bountiful this season.

“Our thrill as coaches has been watching these girls go from total beginnings to having confidence and turning into great players,” said head coach Kurt Bosen. “These girls really give 100 percent and it shows in the results on the course.”

The Redhawks, who have owned the region title for the past several seasons, will also be looking to junior Amelia Mower and freshman Cambria Ohlson to help continue their dominance in Region 5.

“Amelia is a hard-working kid who is in just her second year of playing golf, but you would never know it looking at her,” Bosen said. “Cambria’s older sister is Kylie [who graduated a year ago] so it’s great to have the talent from that family continue.”

Also on the BHS squad this season are seniors Molly Clapham, Lyndsey Gee, Jane Lewis and Holland Staker; juniors Rory Miller, Amelia Mower, Breea Patterson, Cambrie Wernli and Ava Woolley; and sophomores Katie Harper and Emily Viner.

Bosen is being assisted by Dave Harada on the coaching staff this year.

 “We have a young team, but it’s a strong team with some depth this year,” Bosen said. “Last year, we were counting scores for our top four players regardless of how their rounds actually went. This year, we have some players that could challenge those scores in case someone has an off-round.”

The scheduled Region 5 tournaments this season are at Riverside March 20, Schneiters Bluff March 23, Sun Hills March 27, Lakeside March 30, Eaglewood April 12 and Eagle Mountain April 17. The Region 5 championship will be held in late April while the 5A state tournament is scheduled for May 8-9 at Remuda Golf Course.

“We’re looking forward to the season and are excited about the solid team we have here,” Bosen said. “Now, we just need to quit praying for snow and start praying for some sun so we can get outside and play.”

Viewmont

Eleven juniors – Isabel Anderson, Lily Archibald, Grace Fabrizio, Karissa Goff, Anna Howe, Grace Kunzler, Kate MacKay, Ellie Nielson, Halle Salmon, Emily Trimming and Kate Woods –  make up more than half of Viewmont’s girls golf squad this season. 

Also on the VHS team this year are sophomores Lucy Cannon, Morgan Chowen, Bridgette Lowe, Callie Peterson, Claire Salmon and Ava Wright, and freshman Berklie Fox. 

The Vikings will be coached by Nick O’Neal this season as they begin Region 5 play March 20 at Riverside.

Woods Cross

New head coach Brandon Pearson watched his daughter Kennedee play her freshman season last spring for the WXHS program which had just a handful of players, not enough to field a team.

“While Kennedee loves golf, she told me she didn’t want to be on a team if we can’t have a team,” Brandon Pearson said. “I was concerned about the state of the program that didn’t have a lot of interest and since I’m passionate about golf, I approached the administration and offered to help.”

This year, recruiting efforts and some new energy brought nearly 30 girls attended tryouts with Coach Pearson keeping 14 of those players.

“We have a few players that can score in the high 80s and low 90s with a few more with potential to get better quickly,” Brandon Pearson said. “Let’s build from here and see where we go. We want to make state as a team and, although we’re a young team and that’s probably a pretty lofty goal, it is attainable so we’ll work towards that.”

Coach Pearson has been playing golf much of his life, competing in junior tournaments and summer leagues before a four-year high school career at Bountiful and an opportunity to play in college that he declined. With family responsibilities – having six children in 10 years – taking center stage, golf took a back seat until Brandon Pearson’s wife encouraged him to do more than just play casual golf. So, with the “bug back in me,” he has been playing in tournaments and leaving more time for the sport which his children have also all embraced. “It’s much easier for me to be involved in something when my kids are, so I see this as something I’ll be doing for a long time,” he said.

Brandon Pearson has taught golf lessons to friends over the years and enjoys the process of helping others on their game. “I’ve coached soccer and some other sports so I understand the dynamic of a coach’s role,” he said. “Golf is different in that it’s more individualized and it is a challenge to make time for everyone and their various skill levels. But, I’m happy to bring my knowledge to help the girls build their individual confidence on and off the course.”

Also on the WXHS squad this season are juniors Avree Clark, Brooke Francis, Brooklyn Greenwood and Emma Johnson; sophomores Gena Adams, Millie Fotheringham, Charli Judd, Bella Lakey, Katelyn Norman and Savannah Poll; and freshmen Emily Akerlow, Vivian Oaks and Sadie Wray.