By Don Ketchum

When the sun rose on Tuesday (Oct. 30), Mesa Mountain View sat 13 strokes behind leader Phoenix Desert Vista in the Division I boys state golf tournament.

As the sun was setting, Mountain View had become the state champion after rallying for a one-shot win over Desert Vista at the Aguila Golf Course in Laveen.

Led by senior Hayden Webb’s 66 on the par-72 course, three Toros were under par and a fourth was at par and the team finished at 278 for the day, 576 for the tournament.

“Something like this is always a dream,’’ said Mountain View coach Chuck Powell, whose team won it all for the first time since 1992.

The Toros had been in a similar situation in a tournament earlier this season, and came up with a strong finish, according to Powell.

“Coming from the outside, there’s not so much pressure,’’ Powell said. “All we can do is take care of ourselves. The kids did everything they could do. They went out and had fun.’’

Webb shot 74-66 for a 140, Jake Gerard shot a 71-70 for a 141, Tyler Webb shot a 76-70 for a 146 and Chad Hardy shot a 78-72 for a 150. Blake Gerber shot a 77 in Monday’s (Oct. 29) first round, and Cooper Wayment shot a 74 on Tuesday to complete the scoring.

Desert Vista, which finished as runner-up for the third straight year, got a big effort from Matt Liringis, to earned the first-place medalist honor with a 65-68-133. Anthony Quezada of Glendale Independence finished as runner-up for the second straight year with a 72-67-139.

“We all expected to be in the lead after the first day, but it didn’t happen,’’ Hayden Webb said. “We were a lot more laid-back in the second day. We had a lot of birdies.’’

Webb had six birdies on the day.

It took a while before the final result became official.

“We were walking around here for so long, wondering and waiting. We knew it was going to be close,’’ Webb said. “Then they (Desert Vista) came over to shake our hands, and we knew. That was a nice thing to do on their part.’’

Powell and the Toros look to have a chance to repeat in 2013. Many of his players are underclassmen.

Team scores – Mesa Mountain View 576, Phoenix Desert Vista 577, Phoenix Brophy Prep 579, Gilbert Perry 585, Scottsdale Desert Mountain 591, Anthem Boulder Creek 597, Chandler Hamilton 597, Tucson Ironwood Ridge 600, Phoenix Pinnacle 603, Scottsdale Chaparral 604, Mesa Red Mountain 607, Phoenix Horizon 607, Phoenix Mountain Pointe 616, Vail Cienega 620, Gilbert Highland 624, Mesa Desert Ridge 628, Gilbert 629, Glendale Mountain Ridge 630, Mesa Dobson 639.