Monticello girls golf team claims second 1A State Championship in dominant fashion

by Jackson Keyes
Contributing Writer
The “Road to Glory” was set for the Monticello High School girls golf team as they again ventured into the state record books as 1A Utah State Champions after a stellar showing at the Mountain View Golf Course in West Jordan May 14.
The girls overcame rough and hazardous conditions at the state tournament to earn their second championship in three years.
Multiple 1A teams (both boys and girls) converged on Tuesday, May 13 and Wednesday, May 14 at Mountain View to attempt to edge their status into the record books forever.
An open, yet long golf course, Mountain View quickly transformed into a very tight track due to persistent wet and cold conditions.
The rough on every hole was high, making the fairway the only desirable location. But the blistering winds and rainy conditions made locating said fairways a strenuous activity. 
The Lady Buckaroos navigated all of the challenges beautifully, however, shooting a state-champion best 384, 96 strokes over par.
Valley, the hometown of Buckaroo Head Coach Nathan Chamberlain, shot a 405 to place second followed by Rich, who rolled in a 440, Milford, who dropped a 443, and Tabiona, who carded a distant 467.
Monticello’s defeat of Valley for the championship by a whopping 21 strokes cemented the dominance the Lady Buckaroos exhibited all season long.
On his second state championship in three years, Girls Coach Shane Brewer said, “The whole time I was just happy they were playing up to their potential.
“With golf there are always things that can get in your head and mess up your game. The girls were resilient and kept fighting even when the shots weren’t what they wanted.
“They seemed to manage the ups and downs much better at this tournament than at others during the season. I watched many girls from other teams crumble when things went bad or the weather got worse.”
In addition to the team championship, senior Alli Young sketched her name into the record books with the individual title, defeating Valley’s Kalee Brinkerhoff by one stroke for the honor.  Young shot an 18-over-par 90 to Brinkerhoff’s 91.
Young said she was focused on just having fun during her round, not on her place in the scoring. She noted, however, that a caravan of cameras began following her during her final two holes, giving her an indication she was in the hunt for a championship.
Coach Brewer had glowing words for his senior state champ. “What Alli went through this year was so typical of the game of golf. You can be playing well and hitting the ball well, then all of a sudden you slip into a slump.
“Those slumps can last days, weeks, or months for no apparent reason. The best golfers are those who work through the slumps. I was happy Alli found her game again in the nick of time. And you could tell for the whole week leading up to state that she was happy about it too.”
Alli’s teammate, fellow senior Alise Lewis, also played extremely well, finishing with a 22-over-par 94 in third overall.
Freshman LE Olson concluded her impressive rookie season with a 27-over-par 99 in fifth place for the Lady Bucks.
Senior Cambree Chamberlain closed out the Monticello girls team scores in sixth place with a 29-over-par 101.
The state championship wouldn’t be complete though without the final installment of the “Battle of the Burtons.”
Lilli had the last laugh, securing the title with a 109 and a 17th-place finish at state while Jane ended up 32nd in the state with a final round of 124.
In a season marked by dominance, skill, and resilience, the Monticello girls golf team rose above the elements and the competition to claim the 1A State Championship title.
They etched their names into Utah high school sports history with their very own “Road to Glory!” The 2025 championship is a testament to their unwavering spirit and a fitting end to a remarkable season.
The Buckaroo boys also endured two days of thick rough, long tee shots, wind, and rain to finish third at the 1A Utah State Boys Golf Championship at the Mountain View Golf Course.
The Buckaroos finished with a combined 123 strokes over par, just behind Wayne (100 over) and Milford (92 over).
Senior Traken Lee narrowly missed an individual state championship, finishing second with a two-day score of 16 over par. He came home just behind Camden Englestead of Panguitch who carded a 15-over-par 159. Lee showed consistency with two consecutive rounds of 80.
Jackson Keyes finished 13th overall after scoring a 90 on the first day and 83 on day two for a 29-over-par 173.
Kooper Nielson secured the third spot for the Buckaroos with a 95 the first day and a much-improved 83 on the second, ending in 20th place with a 34-over-par 178.
Ryan Holt, with rounds of 92 and 96, finished 27th with a 44-over-par 188. Canyon Christensen shot a 95 on day one and 96 on day two, concluding his week in 29th place with a 47-over-par 191.