For the first time in nearly two years the Carbon High School golf team endured a regular season loss, falling just short of Uintah in the Eastern Utah Cup Thursday afternoon at the Carbon Country Club Golf Course.
Despite finishing with a final team score of 303, the Dinos ended four strokes behind 4A Uintah. Union rounded out the field of three with a final score of 325.
“We were hoping to have a repeat championship for this tournament, and instead we have our first loss over the last couple of years,” said head coach Tom King. “We played alright, but just downright got beat.”
Brady Gagon delivered the low score of the day for the Dinos with an outstanding 71. The low score put Gagon in a playoff for the individual medalist. The sudden-death overtime came to an end on the third hole in favor of Uintah’s standout.
“The future of this Carbon High School golf team is Brady Gagon and he played so well yesterday with a 71,” said King. “What is awesome about Brady is you can watch him play and you don’t know if he is one-under par or fifteen-over par. His demeanor is just so much calmer than the other kids.”
Senior standout Ryker Smith registered the team’s second score with a 75. Carson Martines and Kaden Slavensky both fired a 79 to round out the top four scores.
The win for Uintah means the team will regain control of the traveling trophy, a year after losing it to the Dinos. Dating back to 2014 the two schools have alternated wins in the tournament. The Eastern Utah Cup is an annual event that the three schools have turned into a tradition.
With the regular season now complete the Dinos will focus on the upcoming state championship on Oct. 4 and 5 in Richfield at Cove View. After finishing in fifth place the last two years, Carbon is viewed as one of the top four teams entering the season finale.
“I still believe if we can shoot 600 to 605 we will win the state championship,” King said. “I know Morgan, Grand and North Sanpete are all good schools, so we are definitely in the top four. My goal for the kids is 300 each of the two days.”
**Photo courtesy of Tony Martines