Phoenix prep school wins third straight and 40th overall state title in girls golf
Richard ObertPHOENIX — Xavier Prep's girls golf team captured its third consecutive Division I state championship and 40th title overall on Tuesday.
The Gators were led by Alexis Lamadrid, who won her second straight individual Division I championship.
Xavier was tied with Queen Creek Casteel after the first day at Aguila Golf Course in Laveen, Arizona, both shooting 292 total scores. On the next day, Xavier separated itself and won by 12 strokes with a low two-day total of 577. Casteel was second at 585. Peoria Liberty was third at 621.
Lamadrid trailed Casteel's Julia Herzberg after the first day by two shots, shooting 68. Lamadrid shot a 67 for 18 holes on Nov. 4 for a 135 total to pull ahead of runner-up Herzberg, who posted a 137 over two days. Liberty's Natalia Fox was third with a two-round total of 143.
Lamadrid came short of a title her freshman year by one stroke. She is just a junior, so next year she will have a chance to duplicate the feat Scottsdale Notre Dame Prep's Landon Ashcraft did last week when he became the first male golfer in Arizona high school history to win three straight Division II state golf titles.
The win was the third title in a row for Xavier coach Tui Selvaratnam, who took over the program full-time three years ago from legendary coach and Athletic Director Sister Lynn Winsor.
"I am thrilled for the team for winning their third straight title," Selvaratnam said.
Xavier had five players place in the top 17, including Alexis' sister Natalia, who finished tied for 12th at 151. Natalia Lamadrid, a senior, finished 10th in the state last year. Xavier's Isabella Piazza finished in a four-way tie for fourth at 145. Addison Taylor was eighth at 146.
Notable Xavier College Prep golf alumni
Amanda Blumenhurst
Heather Farr
Missy Farr-Kaye
Ashley Menne
Grace Park
Cheyenne Woods
Sarah Schmelzel
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic.Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don't miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert