It wasn’t without drama, but it did end with raising a trophy. The Juan Diego Catholic High School girls golf team went into the 3A state tournament with a chance to bring home the program’s first title. After Day One at Lakeside Golf Course in West Bountiful May 7, the Soaring Eagle squad had a seven-stroke lead over defending champion Richfield. When it was all said and done on Day Two, Juan Diego had won it all, coming in one stroke better than Morgan. 

“Those girls showed so much grit,” JDCHS head coach Kyler Herdt said. “We went from up 10 strokes to down three with three holes to play. But collectively, we all did enough to get the job done. It felt like a movie. We actually thought we lost by one on hole 18 but by the time we got to the clubhouse, the scores were updated.”

Sophomore Sabrina Macias shot a four-over 75 to lead the field on the first day by a stroke and four others — Isabella Werner, Ava Werner, Camilla Macias and Alexis Burt — were within striking distance in the top 20. 

Day Two was a different story.

“When we were down three, I finally went to the girls and told them where we were at,” Herdt said. “I turned my hat around backwards and we put on the rally cap and we finished strong enough to get the job done. I implored them to forget about anything that happened up to this point. I said that we have a few holes to finish strong and make it right. We had a great season and we didn’t bring our best stuff to regionals or state, but I knew that we could give ourselves a chance by finishing strong and eliminating huge blowup numbers and just playing the kind of golf that they’ve shown me all year long in both tournament play and in practice.”

“Then on hole 18, I was telling them how we didn’t have our best stuff out there and you gotta take your hat off to how well Morgan played,” Herdt said. “I told them that I knew we didn’t bring our best, but it was just gonna make us more hungry for next year and it’s just gonna drive us to get better. Then we went up to the pro shop and the scores updated. Then the girls all attacked me, and we all lost our minds.”

Macias and Ava Werner tied for fourth place to lead Juan Diego. “Sabrina shot even par in one of our regional matches and was also in the lead after Day One at state. She has a ton of gifts, and I can’t wait to see where her game can get over the next couple years,” Herdt said. “Ava is so clutch. I named her ‘Clutch Gene’ because she has just stepped up all year and her late stretch helped us win. She’s a gamer.”

Isabella Werner — the squad’s captain — along with Camilla Macias and Alexis Burt were also scoring golfers for the champions with all five finishing in the top 20.

“Isabella is the best example and the greatest leader. I could not be more proud of how she interacts with the team and how she carries herself,” Herdt said. “Camilla chipped in for par on hole No. 1 to start state — this after pumping her first shot out of bounds. So, it actually took three shots to make par which without the penalty would have been an eagle. It’s super impressive stuff. I still think she has the best hands on the team and her potential is sky high.” 

Alexis’ score also ended up being the ultimate difference, according to Herdt, as she had the fifth-best score for the team on Day One and moved into the fourth-best position on the final day. “Even when things weren’t going her way, Alexis held her head high and never quit,” Herdt said. “She’s an absolute beast and the most athletic girl on our team by far. She also tied for second for the most birdies in the championship, which is very impressive. Her best golf is ahead of her, no doubt.”

Herdt additionally credited the team’s No. 6 golfer, Vanessa Martinez, for her best round of the year on the final day of state. “She had a personal record six pars that day,” he said. “She’s really new to golf and next year I expect her to be right there with the rest of our top five players. She technically has the best golf swing of the entire team.”

“Just like the rest of the year, the girls showed up and some clutch putts were made,” Herdt said. “Every stroke matters — the difference between first, second and third was one stroke.  At the end of the day, it took all of us as a team to bring it home for JD. I am so proud of these girls.”

Three other golfers are also part of the JDCHS program: Rorie Rendon, Alyeska Morales and Peyton McCoy.

“Rorie has the best attitude, the biggest smile of any girl on the team and a ton of untapped potential. She’s even shown me some amazing flashes of brilliance at practice, and I know that she is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the years to come,” Herdt said. “Alyeska was new to the team and she has already shown that she can compete and has a ton of potential. Peyton is super coachable — with a ton of potential as well — and is a great teammate and communicator who always shows up.”

“I am so proud of all of these girls from top to bottom,” Herdt said. “They have shown me that they’re not afraid of putting in the work, they continually show me improved attitudes and mentality on the golf course and they’re all coachable and extremely good teammates. They also demonstrate great sportsmanship not only with the girls on the team but with every competitor. We are just scratching the surface, but I just feel super fortunate to be the coach of this team. I feel like I hit the jackpot with this team. We have a competitive spirit and a hunger that will continue to help us play better golf in the years to come. I couldn’t be more grateful to have this squad, and I can’t wait to see what kind of damage we can do. The best is yet to come.” λ