photography / Troy Boman Sadie Palmer chips out of a bunker during golfing action last fall. Tuesday, Palmer won the 4A/5A girls golf state championship with a 3-under 68.

By Jake Gordon

STAFF WRITER

Tooele High's Sadie Palmer prevailed at the 4A/5A state girls golf tournament Tuesday by shooting a 3-under 68.

Being able to breeze through all of their region matches Tooele had their work cut out for them as a team, having to beat all the 4A and 5A schools to be crowned a state champion at Davis Park Golf Course.

Palmer had an excellent front and played well enough on the back nine to earn medalist honors for the top two classifications in the state.

However, Tooele as a team did not fare as well, as Dixie earned the first ever girls state championship with a score of 237.

Bonneville and Skyline both tied for second at 246 as a team and had to play extra holes to decide it. Bonneville prevailed on the second hole to finish in second place leaving Skyline in third.

Having both 4A and 5A together left a bad taste in a lot of coaches and spectators mouths.

"I am pretty displeased about the classes being bunched together," said Tooele golf coach Fred Killpack. "They made the decision that they should be combined because of the girls that played last year on the boys team, and a lot more girls tried out than what they thought."

Tooele did take one practice round at Davis Park and Killpack did mention that all the girls got better the second time around in the tournament.

Behind Palmer's 68, Meredith Nigh turned in a 111 with Taylor Harris finishing up with a 114. Christine Lawless finished close behind with a 116.

Tooele with their top three scorers managed to shoot a 293 as a team.

"I wish I could of gotten a little more time with these girls," said Killpack. "With more time they would of only gotten better."

Even with the loss of state champion Palmer, coach Killpack is positive for the girls golf program for years to come.

"I think now that girls golf is established that the talent level will continue to soar and so will the interest," said Killpack.

jgordon@tooeletranscript.com