State champ Hamilton lands Walker, Chirravuri in top 8; coach honored
Here is The Arizona Republic’s All-Arizona boys golf team with the eight Golfers of the Year nominees and Coach of the Year for the 2019 high school season.
Gavin Aurilia, Jr., Phoenix Arcadia
Won the Division II individual state title and the Dobson Classic. He led Arcadia to a third place finish at the state team championship.
Mahanth Chirravuri, Sr., Hamilton
University of Southern California commit had a 70.46 season stroke average, won the Ridge and Chandler Invitationals, finished the runner-up at the Brophy Invitational, finished third place at the Antigua Invitational, came in fourth in individual play at the Division I state championship and helped lead Hamilton to the state team title.
Nicky Kling, Sr., Scottsdale Chaparral
Won the Brophy Invitational, Rivalry Cup, came in 15th in the boys individual state championship and helped led Chaparral to a third place in the Division I state team championship.
Ben Lorenz, Sr. Sunrise Mountain
The University of Oklahoma commit was the 2018 individual state champion who tied for second place with Scott Schadler at the 2019 Division I individual state championship.
Zack Missigman, Sr. Phoenix Brophy Prep
Finished the season with a score average of even par 36, came in fifth place for individual play at the Division I state tournament and led Brophy to second place for the team state title.
Scott Schlader, Sr. Phoenix Desert Vista
Won the Chaparral Invitational, finished in the top 10 of six 36-hole events he competed in, including third place at the Ridge Invitational. He was fifth at the Chandler Invitational and the individual runner-up at the Division I state championship. He was ranked second in the state with a 9-hole scoring average of under 3.014.
Preston Summerhays, Jr., Chaparral
The two-time U.S. Junior Amateur golf champion tied for fifth place at the boys individual state championship and helped lead Chaparral to a third place finish at the Division I state championship and had a -3 handicap
Johnny Walker, Jr., Chandler Hamilton
The University of Arizona commit and Division I individual state champion who had a 70.42 season stroke average, led Hamilton to six tournament wins including the state team title, won the Antigua National Invitational, and respectively finished in third and fifth place at the Chandler and Brophy Invitationals.
Honorable Mentions
Gordon Lu, Sandra Day O’Connor; Daniel Thompson, Phoenix Thunderbird;
Rio Newcombe, Queen Creek Casteel; Rylan Johnson, Gilbert Williams Field; Cameron Kaiser, Phoenix Brophy Prep; Wyatt Chapman, Queen Creek Casteel.
Coach of the Year
Steve Kanner
Led Hamilton to its seventh state team title as the Huskies shot 11under in the final round and 13-under as it led throughout the event, beating the 2018 champion Brophy Prep by three strokes. Also, Hamilton won the Brophy, Ridge and Antigua National Invitationals as it shot in the latter tournament’s record 14 strokes in the first round. Also considered: Jon Shores, Phoenix Brophy Prep; Daniel Peterson, Scottsdale Chaparral.