DV boys golf brings Tukee Cup back home

For the first time since 2000 the Ahwatukee Cup is back in Ahwatukee Foothills.

After traveling through Scottsdale, Mesa and Tempe for the past seven years Desert Vista's boys golf team brought the trophy home with a nine-stroke victory in the three-day, 27-hole Ryder Cup format tournament.

It was the only time the Thunder has won the tournament since Mountain Pointe and Desert Vista established the traditional season opener 11 years ago.

Mountain Pointe had been the custodian of the Cup in the early days of the tournament but Scottsdale Desert Mountain, Mesa Red Mountain and Corona del Sol had carried it out of the Ahwatukee Golf Club for the past six years.

"It was an important win for us and gives our team some confidence," Desert Vista coach Peter Moody said. "We hadn't fared well in this tournament in the past. I think the best we finished was fourth."

Desert Vista tied Mesa Red Mountain with a team score of 109 over their home course at Club West and took command the second day at the Foothills Golf Club by opening up a five-stroke lead (99-104) over the Mountain Lions.

The Thunder shot a 107 the third day at the Ahwatukee Golf Club for a three-day total of 315.

Red Mountain was second with 326, while Mountain Pointe made up four strokes on Corona over the final two days to earn a tie for third with the defending tournament champion Aztecs at 327.

Williams Field and Phoenix Arcadia tied for fourth at 360 followed by Glendale Desert Ridge (362), Chandler Basha (371), Marcos de Niza and Mesa (385).

"We've stepped it up and have been playing a lot more golf as far as playing nine holes than we had before," Moody explained. "We've been in tournament mode every day. Hopefully we can keep it going."

The Thunder were playing two freshmen and two sophomores among their top six.

"We have nine guys who can play in the top five so we have consistency and a lot of depth," Moody added. "We'll be a better team at the end of the season than we are now."

While Desert Vista had the weekend to savor the victory, Mountain Pointe was back at it the next two days in the Brophy Invitational at the Scottsdale Grayhawk Raptor course.

The Pride finished fifth in the 27-hole tournament 28 strokes behind Chandler Hamilton (442-470). Red Mountain (449), Glendale Desert Ridge (451), Scottsdale Desert Mountain (460) and host Phoenix Brophy placed ahead of the Pride.

Mountain Pointe's Mike Anderson finished in a four-way tie for second, four shots behind medalist Andrew Yun (106) from Hamilton.