Shooting 17 under to close out the first round of the 2024 AIA Division II Boys' Golf State Championship, NDP Varsity Boys' Golf saved their best collective play for the final round on Thursday to bring home the program's first title since 2009.

Saints juniors Landon Ashcraft, Caden Petersen, Frederick Egnatios, Xander Mulder and Cruz Carter tied the state record for high school boys' golf with a two-day total of 546 strokes and 30 under par as a team to defeat Catalina Foothills by 22 strokes for the title at Aguila Golf Course.

Ashcraft shot dual 67s for a ten under total to earn his second State title (11 birdies). Petersen and Egnatios posted 2-round totals of 6 under par 138's (tied for 6th). Mulder made the most of day two, shooting a 68 and finishing in a tie for 10th, while Carter made his mark with a first-round 68 followed by a 75 in the clincher. 

"After losing (the title) last year on a scorecard playoff, it was pretty tough," said Ashcraft. "It was our goal to win a state championship and how we came out this year to shoot 30 under as a team, we made a statement down here."  

Added Carter, "Coach (Bob) Lambie told us to play with a chip on our shoulder, because of how it ended last season. So we came out with a little more fire and put up a great round. Winning the championship is really special. Our goal was to win State and to finally do it means a lot. It was a lot of hard work and it paid off. We knew we could do it. We had the team." 

NDP Head Varsity Boys' Golf Coach Scott Watkins said, "This morning, I told them they had a chance -- a really good chance -- to win it. We also had a chance to shoot the all-time scoring record, but we weren't going to get there unless they played each hole one at a time, one shot at a time, and that's all they could focus on, so they pretty much did it. I knew they were capable of it." 

Added Egnatios, "We tied the record this year, so next year we set our sights on beating it. It's amazing to have these guys around. We're all juniors, We have another year. It's incredible."

Way to go, Saints!