The other schools in Region 2 just might be grateful Alta is taking it’s girls golf team to the 4A ranks next year. It will mean somebody other than Alta will finally be Region 2 champions.

Ever since girls golf became a team sport in 2011 by the Utah High School Activities Association, Alta has had a virtual stranglehold on its Region crown, winning the first five straight.

 But it nearly appeared this season might not continue the dynasty.

“We lost seven golfers off last year’s team,” Alta coach Gary Schneider said. “And while we have usually had quite a lot of golfers, this year we didn’t have as many.”

Alta had just eight girls on this year’s team, but rarely did the Hawks field a full contingent.

 “Due to illnesses and other commitments, we played some duals with only four girls,” Schneider said.

Since the top four girls are used to count the team score, it helped that usually the four that would show up played well enough to win the duals.

The team had just three seniors, with only one of them, Danielle Jack, bringing any varsity experience to this year’s team. Still, when it came time to play in regions and state play, Alta was represented well.

“We did pick up some very good underclassmen who know how to play golf,” Schneider said.

Among them is freshman Cora Mickelson. The young golfer stormed through the season and set a goal for herself for the next three years. Mickelson was the top Alta golfer at the state 5A championships, held May 13-14 at East Bay Golf Course in Provo. She finished ninth overall with a two-day combined score of 167.

Mickelson also was the top golfer at the Region 2 meet and Jack was second, leading the way for Alta’s fifth straight region title.

“Mickelson is going to be a contender for the state individual title for the next three years,” Schneider said.

Alta will lose Jack to graduation along with seniors Carissa Schmid and Alli Crosland. Both represented the Hawks at State. Schmid finished in the team point totals as the fourth Hawk in at 34th overall. Crosland did not finish in the team point totals.

Along with Mickelson, Alta will be returning two other golfers with state experience. Emmy Taylor and Yeon-Su Hwang both made the state team. Taylor, a sophomore, was third in on the team (31st overall) and Hwang finished fifth for Alta (37th overall). 

Alta also got help throughout the season from sophomore Ashley Crosland and freshman Karly Bain. All but Bain will be returning to help Alta next season.

“Bain did very well for us this year,” Schneider said. “But she is moving to St. George.”