Pusch Ridge shot a 2-over-par 142 to beat the field on Wednesday at the Omni Tucson National Sonoran Course in Oro Valley. Willcox (194) and Horizon Honors (221) followed. The Gregory School fielded two golfers and did not score as a team.

Individually, Lion sophomore David Vanden Branden shot a 1-under 34 to hold off his teammates, junior Mark Stypa (35) and senior Thaddeus Stypa (35). Vanden Branden shot a bogey on the eighth hole, as did Mark Stypa.

Pusch Ridge won the Division III state championship last year by one stroke over Phoenix Country Day and Mark Stypa took second place to Phoenix Country Day standout Sam Meltzer (139-141).

Teams need at least seven qualifying rounds to qualify for state but each of the eight section winners will earn an automatic playoff spot and the remaining seven at-large berths will be awarded to teams based on rankings. No teams or individuals have reached the seven qualifying rounds played yet.

17 individuals not attached to one of the 15 qualifying teams will also earn a playoff berth based on rankings for a base total of 90 golfers.

 

Mark Stypa. (Andy Morales/AZPreps365)

 

TEAM SCORES

1 Pusch Ridge 142 (+2)

2 Willcox 194

3 Horizon Honors 221

DNS Gregory School

 

INDIVIDUAL SCORES

1 David Vanden Branden, Pusch Ridge 34 (-1)

2 Mark Stypa, Pusch Ridge 35 (E)

2 Thaddeus Stypa, Pusch Ridge 35 (E)

4 Kiah Franklin, Pusch Ridge 38

4 Olivia Franklin, Pusch Ridge 38

6 Kasey Cobeen, Willcox 39

7 Nicholas Labukas, Gregory School 41

7 Cameron Shoaff, Pusch Ridge 41

9 Jason Wu, Horizon Honors 43

10 Ian Polec, Gregory School 44

11 Benjamin Ruggles, Horizon Honors 47

12 Logan Wise, Willcox 50

13 Tayden Cook, Willcox 52

14 Wyatt Cooke, Willcox 53

15 Cash Hudson, Willcox 60

16 Kaden Cochran, Horizon Honors 62

17 Bree Singleton, Horizon Honors 69