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South Salt Lake Journal

For CHS girls golfer, Utah Section PGA tourney was unique opportunity at an uncertain time

Jul 13, 2020 01:29PM ● By Brian Shaw

By Brian Shaw | [email protected]

For Cottonwood junior Jasmine Wonnacott, she thought playing any sport during the COVID-19 pandemic would provide some welcome relief from being stuck at home. She just didn't know, however, that sport would be golf. 

Wonnacott, who played significant minutes on the Cottonwood varsity basketball team last year had already been playing in intramural games in the Cottonwood High gym this summer, preparing for her senior year. 

But, when several Cottonwood girls golfers told Wonnacott about the possibility of playing in the Utah Section PGA in a group chat text message, Wonnacott jumped at the chance. 

"Our team captain (senior Zoe Sager) texted me and then I texted our coach (Greg Southwick) saying that I'd be interested," Wonnacott said.

"I was so excited," she added, "because under normal circumstances I may not qualify for the state tournament so I felt this was a great opportunity." 

Wonnacott and her three Cottonwood teammates were only able to practice for four days leading up to this Utah Section PGA, which was cobbled together after the Utah High School Activities Association canceled all spring sports in 2020. 

Tournament organizers decided that the best place for it would be Fox Hollow, located in Utah County where pandemic restrictions aren't as severe as Salt Lake or Davis County. 

At the tournament it was senior Aleigha Beverley who led the way for the Cottonwood girls, tying for 41st place overall among all Class 5A golfers. Junior Katie George came in 59th while sophomore Sophie Taggart finished tied for 66th. 

Just down the leaderboard, but not too far off the pace of her Cottonwood teammates sat Wonnacott, who shot a +60 in her 18 holes at the Utah Section PGA, her first major golf event 

"I feel like I did alright. I felt like I could've done better but at the same time, we only got a couple weeks of practice in. It was so pretty there! I had a lot of fun," adding that she cannot wait for next year.