Greg Hansen's top 10 high school golfers in Tucson history
- Updated
Sabino grad Willie Wood tops the list.
Editor's note: This summer, Star columnist Greg Hansen is count down the top 10 of just about everything related to Tucson sports.
Today's list: The top 10 high school golfers in Tucson history.
Rincon High School’s Ken Engle reached the 18th tee at Randolph North Golf Course needing a birdie to tie Salpointe Catholic's Cyril Shettleroe for the state championship.
It was May 14, 1965, and Shettleroe was generally considered the top upcoming boys golfer in Tucson. Engle, who had shot a 2-over par 74 in the opening round, was trying to keep pace.
After a strong drive down the middle on the par-5 finishing hole, Engle chose to hit a 7-iron from about 175 yards. It would be the most historic shot in the history of Tucson prep golf.
"I knew I was going to break par," Engle said. "But when the ball disappeared off the green I heard a hollow clang. I thought was coming from the (adjacent) ninth hole. I figured it was too early for my ball to be approaching the cup."
Not only did Engle’s shot approach the cup, it dropped in. It was a double-eagle 2, and Engle was the 1965 state champion, beating Shettleroe by two strokes. Salpointe, however, won the boys team championship; Rincon was seventh, 28 strokes back.
Engle didn’t shoot the best score for a Tucson golfer in state history — he was even-par over two days — but since the state championship golf tournament began in 1939, no one has matched his double-eagle at just the right time.
Here’s our list of Tucson’s 10 leading state golf champions, boys and girls, over those 77 years:
Wood was ranked No. 1 nationally for boys 18U in the nation when he repeated as state champ in ’79. He was so highly coveted by college teams that immortal golf pro Byron Nelson phoned Wood to encourage him to attend then-national powerhouse Houston. Wood, who ultimately played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, chose Oklahoma State.
Meyers’ two-day total of 68-68—136 is the lowest score ever shot by a Tucson prep golfer during the state championship. He won by four strokes and then enrolled at Stanford where he is a member of the men’s golf program.
Quihuis was so good as a sophomore that she shot an opening 66 and won going away. "My best score is 65," she said. "My next goal is to win the individual title three years in a row." Now a senior-to-be at Arizona, a former Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, Quihuis did not repeat as a senior.
In one of the most clutch finishes in state golf history, DeSantis shot a 31 on the back nine to cap a final-round 66, winning the title with at birdie at 18.
Gaona’s two-day total of 71-67—138 was the lowest by a Tucson prep champion until 1977. Gaona ultimately played on the Champions Tour in the 1990s.
Kern, the son of seven-time Tucson City Amateur champion Jeff Kern, won going away, by 5 strokes, shooting a 31 on the front nine the final day. Kern played at Kansas State.
The Titans swept the boys and girls titles in 2001, as de Gennaro, who would play at Nevada, endured playing with a golfer who shot a two-day total of 197. de Gennaro shot 74-75 to win by four.
After his shot-of-a-lifetime, Engle accepted a scholarship to Northwestern.
During her prep golf career, Ratigan played at Rincon, Catalina Foothills and Sabino. She shot a 79 to win the 2003 title for Rincon on a day the wind chill barely broke 40 degrees in Buckeye. Ratigan was the only girl to break 80 that day. She became a four-year regular at Michigan.
Shooting 69-70 at Randolph North, Hite absorbed the joy of a state title. "I don’t even need a trophy," he said. "This is just the best. I’m happier than all get-out." Hite played four years for the Utah Utes.
Christina Baena, younger sister of 1997 Arizona NCAA champion Marisa Baena, won the 1997 state title as a Colombian exchange student at CDO. Mark Udall won the 1968 state championship at CDO. He is the son of former presidential candidate and Arizona basketball standout Mo Udall. Mark served as senator from Colorado from 2009-15.
Editor's note: This summer, Star columnist Greg Hansen is count down the top 10 of just about everything related to Tucson sports.
Today's list: The top 10 high school golfers in Tucson history.
Rincon High School’s Ken Engle reached the 18th tee at Randolph North Golf Course needing a birdie to tie Salpointe Catholic's Cyril Shettleroe for the state championship.
It was May 14, 1965, and Shettleroe was generally considered the top upcoming boys golfer in Tucson. Engle, who had shot a 2-over par 74 in the opening round, was trying to keep pace.
After a strong drive down the middle on the par-5 finishing hole, Engle chose to hit a 7-iron from about 175 yards. It would be the most historic shot in the history of Tucson prep golf.
"I knew I was going to break par," Engle said. "But when the ball disappeared off the green I heard a hollow clang. I thought was coming from the (adjacent) ninth hole. I figured it was too early for my ball to be approaching the cup."
Not only did Engle’s shot approach the cup, it dropped in. It was a double-eagle 2, and Engle was the 1965 state champion, beating Shettleroe by two strokes. Salpointe, however, won the boys team championship; Rincon was seventh, 28 strokes back.
Engle didn’t shoot the best score for a Tucson golfer in state history — he was even-par over two days — but since the state championship golf tournament began in 1939, no one has matched his double-eagle at just the right time.
Here’s our list of Tucson’s 10 leading state golf champions, boys and girls, over those 77 years:
Wood was ranked No. 1 nationally for boys 18U in the nation when he repeated as state champ in ’79. He was so highly coveted by college teams that immortal golf pro Byron Nelson phoned Wood to encourage him to attend then-national powerhouse Houston. Wood, who ultimately played on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour, chose Oklahoma State.
Meyers’ two-day total of 68-68—136 is the lowest score ever shot by a Tucson prep golfer during the state championship. He won by four strokes and then enrolled at Stanford where he is a member of the men’s golf program.
Quihuis was so good as a sophomore that she shot an opening 66 and won going away. "My best score is 65," she said. "My next goal is to win the individual title three years in a row." Now a senior-to-be at Arizona, a former Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, Quihuis did not repeat as a senior.
In one of the most clutch finishes in state golf history, DeSantis shot a 31 on the back nine to cap a final-round 66, winning the title with at birdie at 18.
Gaona’s two-day total of 71-67—138 was the lowest by a Tucson prep champion until 1977. Gaona ultimately played on the Champions Tour in the 1990s.
Kern, the son of seven-time Tucson City Amateur champion Jeff Kern, won going away, by 5 strokes, shooting a 31 on the front nine the final day. Kern played at Kansas State.
The Titans swept the boys and girls titles in 2001, as de Gennaro, who would play at Nevada, endured playing with a golfer who shot a two-day total of 197. de Gennaro shot 74-75 to win by four.
After his shot-of-a-lifetime, Engle accepted a scholarship to Northwestern.
During her prep golf career, Ratigan played at Rincon, Catalina Foothills and Sabino. She shot a 79 to win the 2003 title for Rincon on a day the wind chill barely broke 40 degrees in Buckeye. Ratigan was the only girl to break 80 that day. She became a four-year regular at Michigan.
Shooting 69-70 at Randolph North, Hite absorbed the joy of a state title. "I don’t even need a trophy," he said. "This is just the best. I’m happier than all get-out." Hite played four years for the Utah Utes.
Christina Baena, younger sister of 1997 Arizona NCAA champion Marisa Baena, won the 1997 state title as a Colombian exchange student at CDO. Mark Udall won the 1968 state championship at CDO. He is the son of former presidential candidate and Arizona basketball standout Mo Udall. Mark served as senator from Colorado from 2009-15.
Tags
More information
View this profile on Instagram#ThisIsTucson 🌵 (@this_is_tucson) • Instagram photos and videos
Most viewed stories
-
44 fun events happening in Tucson this weekend Nov. 21-24 🚴♀️🎈
-
El Tour de Tucson is back this weekend. Here's everything you need to know.
-
Get delicious turkey dinners at these local restaurants this Thanksgiving
-
Shop from local artists at this 3-day market hosted by the Tucson Museum of Art
-
Turkey and pie: where to get free Thanksgiving dinners this month
-
60 fun events happening in Tucson this weekend Nov. 14-17 📚🛍
-
Eat all the tamales of your dreams at Casino Del Sol's 19th annual tamal festival
-
Meru is no longer the newest member of the elephant herd — but she's still the baby 🐘
-
Galloping into action: This new rescue calls for volunteers to care for horses in need
-
A giant list of vegan food in Tucson — now with more restaurants!