Morgan’s quest for a repeat state title got off to a great start Wednesday during the opening day of the 3A state tournament at the Carbon Country Club in Price.
Morgan shot a 291 team score and leads Carbon (304) by 13 strokes heading into Thursday’s final round.
Juab is one stroke back of Carbon at 305.
Four of the top five golfers atop the leaderboard are Morgan golfers. Region 12 medalist Jace Benson shot a 1-under 69, and is the only golfer who shot under par in the opening round.
He closed his round with birdies on No. 15 and 18 to build momentum for Thursday.
Benson’s teammate Mo Hallsten is one stroke back after shooting a 70 and Carbon’s Dayton King sits alone in third after a 2-over 72 on Wednesday, with Morgan golfers Korver Toone and Braxton Telford tied for fourth at 3-over.
Benson, Toone and Telford were key members of Morgan’s state championship team from a year ago that rallied from a six-shot deficit on Day 1 to beat Juab.
Class 3A state tournament
At Carbon Country Club
Team scores (Day 1)
- 291 — Morgan
- 304 — Carbon
- 305 — Juab
- 312 — Union
- 323 — Richfield
- 327 — Logan
- 328 — Ogden
- 336 — Delta
- 342 — Emery
- 343 — Canyon View (Missed Cut)
- 344 — Grantsville (Missed Cut)
- 351 — Manti (Missed Cut)
- 354 — North Sanpete (Missed Cut)
- 376 — Ben Lomond (Missed Cut)
- 451 — Providence Hall (Missed Cut)
Individual leaders (Top 25)
- 69 — Jace Benson, Morgan
- 70 — Mo Hallsten, Morgan
- 72 — Dayton King, Carbon
- 73 — Korver Toone, Morgan
- 73 — Braxton Telford, Morgan
- 74 — Crue Cowan, Juab
- 75 — Stetson Wills, Union
- 76 — Tristen Cunningham, Carbon
- 76 — Caleb Reese, Morgan
- 77 — Max Albrecht, Richfield
- 77 — Jaylan Dinkel, Juab
- 77 — Davis Wilkins, Morgan
- 77 — Kolar Hooper, Juab
- 77 — Ty Bender, Juab
- 77 — Owen Smith, Union
- 77 — Eastyn Larsen, Delta
- 78 — Karsen Gazell, Carbon
- 78 — Cy Birchell, Union
- 78 — Levi King, Carbon
- 79 — Daxon Adams, Logan
- 79 — Wesley Nowers, Richfield
- 79 — Braden Anderson, Logan
- 79 — Cash Fife, Ogden
- 79 — Tanner Cook, Grantsville
- 80 — Logan Handy, Ogden
- 80 — Chase Sorensen, North Sanpete
- 80 — Christian Cowan, Carbon