Dixie's Annabelle Millard wins Utah Section PGA championship; 7 other Region 9 golfers place in top 10

Chris Kwiecinski
St. George Spectrum & Daily News
Annabelle Millard (blue polo) poses after winning the Utah Section PGA title in the 4A classification.

Dixie High’s prodigy sophomore is now the best in the state among 4A golfers in 2020.

Annabelle Millard, who won the 2019 Region 9 individual title as a freshman, won the Utah Section PGA 4A title at Rose Park in Salt Lake City on Thursday. 

Millard, competing against other Region 9 golfers and other talents from around the state, shot four under par for a score of 70.

That 70 was five strokes ahead of second place, which was Desert Hills senior Abigail Leitze, who shot 75.

Millard overcame a double bogey at No. 4 by hitting three-straight birdies at No’s. 7, 8, and 9, while also hitting birdies at No’s. 16 and 17.

"I just had to shake it off, take it as a grain of salt and move on," Millard said. "It doesn't do much good to get angry."

More:Dixie's golf phenom traveled the country to own Region 9 golf during a trying freshman season

This tournament, organized by the Utah Section PGA, was not associated with the Utah High School Activities Association. The UHSAA canceled sports in mid April and doubled down on that cancellation in May.

This meant the competitors at Rose Park were only individual titles, and not team titles.

"It was definitely different, but it was really enjoyable nonetheless," Millard said. "I am so grateful that it was even able to happen."

Sans team competition, Region 9’s golfing talent still showed out. Seven southern Utah golfers placed in the top 10 of the tournament.

Dixie's Annabelle Millard and Desert Hills' Abby Leitze finished first and second, respectively, in the Utah Section PGA 4A girls golf tournament.

Besides Millard and Leitze, Desert Hills’ seniors Kelsey Ranson and Manson Seransie finished third and sixth, respectively.

Tied for sixth with Seransie was Pine View freshman Hallie Wieland, who shot an 85.

Behind those golfers, both tied for eighth, were Hurricane’s Ellie Johnson and Pine View’s Kenzi Owen who shot an 86. Both Johnson and Owen are freshmen.

More:Dixie High alum, PGA golfer to be inducted in the Utah Sports Hall of Fame

This tournament didn't just highlight the talent that Region 9 has in girls golf, it also was a public service announcement that Region 9 golf will be dominating for the next handful of years.

With three of the top-10 finishers being sophomores next year, and Millard being a junior, it'll be difficult to project a clear Region 9 favorite.

"I love that there's a lot of girls coming into golf and seeing golf as something they want to purse," Millard said. "I'm really excited to be able to compete against them for the next two years and hopefully be good friends."

Follow Chris Kwiecinski on Twitter @OchoK_. You can contact him at CKwiecinsk@thespectrum.com, or (435) 414-3261.