Payson Roundup | Payson, AZ

After finishing first, second and third in a series of mid-season matches, the Longhorn varsity golf team returns to action at 3 p.m. today in a nine-hole East Region clash at Silver Creek, north of Show Low.

Today’s match is a tune-up for the big daddy of the regular season — the White Mountain Invitational to be held April 17 at Silver Creek Golf Course and the following day at Snowflake.

“It’s a two-day, 36-hole tournament,” said PHS coach Bret Morse.

The Horns’ tournament silver medal was racked up April 9 at We Ko Pa Saguaro Course near Phoenix.

There, the Horns posted a 171 on the par 36 course to finish a close second to Valley Christian. With a 181, Estrella Foothills was third and Fountain Hills took fourth at 197.

Individually, four players shot a 40 to tie for low medalist honors. Among the leaders were Payson’s Cody Waterman and Mason Dacanay.

Also for PHS, freshman Tyler Apps finished at 45, Anthony Smith turned in a 46 and Filip Frojd and Alex Korth both carded 48s.

Payson’s first place finish was posted March 30 in a rare home match at Chaparral Pines. PHS has only two home matches this season.

Riding the home course advantage, Payson had 180 that was two strokes better than runner-up Northwest Christian. With a 188, Fountain Hills took third.

Northwest Christian’s Paul Holtfrerich and Fountain Hills’ Logan Geddes deadlocked for low medalist honors at 39.

Apps turned in Payson’s finest effort, a 40.

Trailing for the Horns were Waterman (42), Dacanay (48) and Korth (50).

Payson posted its third place showing April 7 at Torreon Golf Club on a par 36 course. In the six-team field, the Horns tallied a 182 to trail runner-up Blue Ridge (176) and meet champ Snowflake (263).

The Lobos first place finish came as no surprise since the White Mountain area team is a defending state champion and odds-on favorites to win a second successive title.

Snowflake’s Kyle Jones, the defending 3A individual state champion, took first at 34.

With a 42, Waterman was Payson’s best. Apps finished at 44, Smith posted a 47 and Korth a 49.