The Arizona high school golf scene is well underway. The Boys Division II state tournament begins Oct. 30, and the Division I tournament tees off a week later on Nov. 6. Can Hamilton repeat their Division I championship run from last season? Here is a rundown of the Top 10 Arizona boys’ golf teams, based on iWanamaker rankings as of this week. The team rankings are determined by player scores during 9-hole stroke play events and include both D-I and D-II teams.
1. Catalina Foothills
The Division II school out of Tucson takes the top spot this week behind junior Chase Cesarek. The No. 5 ranked golfer in the state, per iWanamaker, shot a 4-under to win the Brophy Rodeo on Aug. 23, where teams from Arizona, Utah, Texas, Colorado and Illinois were present. Senior Finn Meister is also among the top 10 golfers in Arizona at No. 9.
2. Brophy
The Broncos are in for a redemption season, as the Division I runner-up last year. Dylan Boenning is leading the way as the No. 6 ranked golfer in the state and No. 1 in Division I. Brophy has six players among iWanamaker’s top 50 players.
3. Notre Dame Prep
Landon Ashcraft shot 8-under par in last year’s Division II state tournament to take home the individual title. He was ranked No. 9 nationally by the PGA National High School Golf Association for the fall 2023 season, and is ranked No. 3 in state. Just under him at No. 4 is his teammate Xander Mulder.
4. Chaparral
The third Division II school to crack the top five, the Firebirds have a team scoring average of 147.6. They are led by senior Hudson Ross, the No. 8 player in the state.
5. Casteel
The Colts came up a stroke short to Chaparral in a three-team match on Sept. 24, but won their match two days later against Horizon and Seton Catholic Prep. The team placed fifth in The Peaks Invitational this last weekend. Senior Cade Sherwood leads the way for the Colts.
6. Horizon
Behind seniors Nick Schaffer and Brennan Korn, the Huskies stand at No. 5 among Division I teams. Horizon’s season average thus far is 149.3.
7. Hamilton
Coming off the program’s 10th Division I state championship last fall, the Huskies are looking to run it back. Though it will be tough with the loss of Vincent Cervantes, the No. 1 player in Arizona last year. Junior Joseph Nelson will now hope to lead Hamilton to a repeat.
8. ALA Gilbert North
Featuring iWanamaker’s No. 2 ranked Arizona player Jake Goyen, the Eagles are hoping to make a name for themselves in the Division II championships this year.
9. Desert Mountain
The Wolves are sporting a season average of 6.387, just higher than ALA GN. Their top player is Connor Bringhurst, who just cracked the top 10 players this year.
10. Corona del Sol
The Aztecs have two golfers in the iWanamaker top 20, Hogan O’Malley (13), and Tyler Weihe (18).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Find who follows Catalina Foothills in Arizona top 10 HS golf rankings
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