Time to strike: Lone Peak’s Kihei Akina wins tight battle to earn individual state title, Knights finish second
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- Lone Peak senior Kihei Akina walks up the No. 18 fairway during the final round of the 6A state tournament at Riverbend golf course in Riverton on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Lone Peak golfers pose with the second-place trophy after the final round of the 6A state tournament at Riverbend golf course in Riverton on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Lone Peak senior Kihei Akina watches his shot during the final round of the 6A state tournament at Riverbend golf course in Riverton on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Lone Peak senior Kihei Akina (right) and Corner Canyon senior Bowen Mauss pose for a photo after the final round of the 6A state tournament at Riverbend golf course in Riverton on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Lone Peak senior Kihei Akina tips his hat to the crowd after finishing the final round of the 6A state tournament at Riverbend golf course in Riverton on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Lone Peak senior Kihei Akina hits his drive during the final round of the 6A state tournament at Riverbend golf course in Riverton on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Lone Peak senior Kihei Akina watches his putt during the final round of the 6A state tournament at Riverbend golf course in Riverton on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Lone Peak junior Noah Goeckeritz hits a shot during the final round of the 6A state tournament at Riverbend golf course in Riverton on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Lone Peak freshman Ryder Huish hits a shot during the final round of the 6A state tournament at Riverbend golf course in Riverton on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Lone Peak junior Weston Abbott lines up a putt during the final round of the 6A state tournament at Riverbend golf course in Riverton on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Cedar Valley junior Brayden Hester heads toward a hole during the final round of the 5A state tournament at Glen Eagle golf course in Syracuse on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Spanish Fork senior Ben Clayson lines up a shot during the final round of the 5A state tournament at Glen Eagle golf course in Syracuse on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Salem Hills freshman Carson Peterson hits a shot during the final round of the 5A state tournament at Glen Eagle golf course in Syracuse on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Spanish Fork senior Ben Clayson hits a shot during the final round of the 5A state tournament at Glen Eagle golf course in Syracuse on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
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- Salem Hills freshman Carson Peterson lines up a putt during the final round of the 5A state tournament at Glen Eagle golf course in Syracuse on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
As Lone Peak senior Kihei Akina walked up the 18th fairway at the conclusion of the final round of the 6A state tournament on Tuesday, the shrill cry of the resident hawk at Riverbend golf course in Riverton pierced the quiet scene.
In some ways that raptor could be viewed as a suitable symbol of how Akina’s round had gone.
For most of the two-day event, he and Corner Canyon senior Bowen Mauss had circled each other, with neither one gaining much of an advantage.
Mauss went up by one stroke when he birdied No. 13, so Akina knew he needed to respond.
“It was obviously really close,” Akina said. “It was back and forth. I try to play like I was down but he was playing really well. I was a little bit behind coming into the last five holes, so I just told myself that I needed to dig deep and make some putts.”
When it was time to strike, Akina showed a killer instinct.
He birdied No. 14 to tie things up, then tacked on birdies on No. 15 and No. 16 to build a two-stroke lead.
“I made three really good putts,” Akina said. “I told myself that I was sick and tired of coming up short. I really wanted this one.”
He explained that instead of the pressure making him tighten up, he embraced to make himself play better.
“It’s about using it to focus,” Akina said. “I think I do that pretty well but I’m always trying to get better at that so I’m ready when there is a lot on the line.”
Mauss played solid golf down the stretch but Akina wasn’t going to be stopped this year, putting the icing on the cake with one final birdie on No. 18 (in front of the hawk, which was perched on one of trees).
“I got my redemption there,” Akina said. “I feel for Bowen but I was glad to get it done this year.”
Akina finished with a two-day total of 127 (17-under-par) to defeat Mauss by three strokes in a battle of two incredibly talented young golfers.
“I can’t think of two young men who have accomplished what they have accomplished,” Lone Peak head coach Derek Farr said. “With the type of young men and players they are, it was phenomenal watching those two play, going head-to-head. It was awesome. Those guys are definitely going to go on to bigger and better things.”
While Akina got the advantage in the individual dual, Mauss ended up being able to celebrate with his team. Corner Canyon erased a three-stroke deficit by shooting 22-under-par in the final round to beat the Knights by seven strokes
“It was one of those days that there was much more good than bad,” Farr said. “It’s just disappointing when you’re right there and have opportunities to do things and we didn’t. We’re really young, so hopefully we can just get better from this experience and move on. We had a guy shoot 9-under, and we just didn’t have enough help for that today.”
Akina admitted that not getting the team title stung quite a bit.
“I’m obviously a little bit disappointed,” Akina said. “I’d rather have the team title over the individual title. But I’m proud of my team. We’re really deep this year, with a lot of good players, a lot of young players. I think Lone Peak is in good hands in the future.”
Knight freshmen Ryder Huish (7-under-par, fifth overall) and Blake Brown (6-under-par, tied for sixth) both played a key role in getting Lone Peak to runner-up position.
Farr hopes the young players will use their experiences this season to be prepared for next year.
“You talk to some of these guys who play in these big events and they get super nervous for these high school tournaments,” Farr said. “It’s a different playing for a team and there is a lot of pressure. We are young and we’ve got some good guys coming up.”
In addition to Lone Peak’s success, American Fork came in fourth with senior Gavin Van Woerkom tying for 10th at 4-under-par.
This is the end of Akina’s high school career, however, and he said that team aspect is what he will value most.
“The best part was just being around the boys,” Akina said. “We’d go out to eat after almost every tournament. Spending time with them, competing with them, playing for them, it was the best. You don’t get that much in golf.”
Salem Hills freshman comes in second in 5A
Salem Hills freshman Carson Peterson turned in an impressive two-day performance in the 5A state tournament, which took place at Glen Eagle golf course in Syracuse on Monday and Tuesday.
Peterson had a pair of consistent rounds, firing a 67 (5-under-par) on the first day and following that up with a 68 on Day 2. His total score of 135 (9-under-par) wasn’t quite enough to catch Skyline senior Jackson Shelley, who finished first at 131 (13-under-par) but it was enough for the Skyhawk to end up in second place.
In addition to Peterson’s success, Cedar Valley junior Brayden Hester shot a 138 (6-under-par) to tie for fifth.
In the team competition, Timpview made a move on the second day to end up in fifth place, while Spanish Fork and Cedar Valley tied for ninth. Skyline ended up winning the state title by 16 strokes over second-place Woods Cross.
