GIRLS GOLF
for a Gila Ridge girls team that posted its second straight undefeated regular season and has unofficially qualified for the Division II State Championship for the second year in a row.
Gerber, a six-time medalist this season, entered Monday with a nine-hole season scoring average of 44.5, which ranked second locally, behind only Hernandez (44.2). Her success has caught even herself by surprise.
“I wasn’t expecting anything (coming into the season), honestly,” Gerber said. “I was just coming in like, ‘Hey guys, I’m the new person.’ I thought I was going to be like last all the time.” Not the case. “Her focus and her dedication,” Gila Ridge coach Travis Bogart said of what’s allowed for Gerber’s success. “She’s fairly new to the game; she picked it up and fell in love with it. She shows up to practice when we’re not here practicing, and she’s always playing year-round.”
Well, for only the past year, that is. Gerber said she didn’t fully invest herself into golf until this past spring or so, meaning she’s likely just beginning to scratch the surface of her potential.
Gila Ridge’s No. 2-4 golfers are a bit more seasoned, as Grant, Bunte and Brown are all varsity returners. Wolfe, just a sophomore, is the team’s No. 5 — the fact that she tied for fourth overall Monday shows just how deep the Hawks are.
“I’ve never had a No. 5 shoot better than like a 70,” Bogart said, referring to a ninehole score.
The Hawks are currently ranked No. 10 in the Division II team rankings, meaning they’ll be in next week’s 16-team state field.
For every other local girls golfer except Hernandez, the season came to an end Monday. But Hernandez will be heading to state — at the Division I level — for the third year in a row.
“I feel like I really improved (this year) and I was able to go through some hard times and overcome them,” Hernandez said. “It’s just been a very good experience.”
Maesy Ramirez (113) was Kofa’s top finisher Monday, while Genavieve Amstutz (134) led the Criminals and Kely Serpas/ Vivian Gurrola (139s) led the Sidewinders.