Hamilton wins second straight boys Division 1 state golf title
Following the first round of golf Wednesday at the AIA Division 1 Boys State Championship, Chandler Hamilton trailed Brophy Prep by six strokes.
The Broncos, led by two-sport star sophomore Charlie Palmer and senior Noah Nuez, were looking strong. On Brophy's team of five golfers, none had scores higher than three shots over par.
But on Thursday at the Omni Tucson National Sonoran Course, during the final day of the event, Hamilton stormed back, besting the Broncos by 18 strokes. The dominant display was more than enough to secure the Huskies second consecutive Division 1 state championship.
Leading the way for Hamilton was the trio of junior Mahanth Chirravuri, sophomore Anawin Pikulthong and senior Johnny Walker.
Walker, last year's individual state champion, found himself within the top six of the individual leader board. Pikulthong ofinished in third place and had the second best score on day two of the tourney.
But ultimately, Hamilton's rise to an eventual state championship came in thanks to the otherworldly play of Chirravuri.
On Thursday, the Huskies star shot three consecutive birdies on holes 14 through 16 to pass Sandra Day O'Connor senior Max Lyons at the top of the leader board. After finishing the last two holes for par, the junior had clinched the individual crown.
Chirravuri, a USC commit, finished the tournament shooting 10 under par and shot six strokes under par on the second day alone.
Here's a look at top team and individual finishers:
Team:
1. Hamtilon: 557; 2. Brophy: 569; 3. Pinnacle: 572; 4. Sandra Day O'Connor: 592; 5. Desert Mountain: 595; 6. Casteel: 601; 7. Horizon: 603; 8. Queen Creek: 615; 9. Red Mountain: 622; 10. Desert Vista: 624
Individual:
1. Mahanth Chirravuri, Jr., Hamilton: -10; 2. Max Lyons, Sr., Sandra Day O'Connor: -8; . Anawin Pikulthong, So., Hamilton: -3; T4. Kyle Wandel, Jr., Horizon: -2; T4. Wyatt Chapman, So., Casteel: -2