High school girls golf: Led by medalist Kenadee Benson, Morgan captures 3A state championship

Morgan’s Kenadee Benson cheers with her teammates as she holds the team championship trophy after the final round of the 3A girls golf state championship held at the Stansbury Park Golf Course on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Benson won the individual championship in addition to Morgan’s first-place team victory. | Isaac Hale, Deseret News Whether it was the poise of being the only senior in contention, or trailing by enough strokes to think she was probably a long shot, Morgan’s Kenadee Benson put together a near-perfect round of golf during the final day of the 3A state tournament on Thursday.

While most golfers were posting higher scores on the second day of competition, Benson shot a season-low 74 to surge into a first-place tie, and then she rolled in an 8-footer for birdie on the first playoff hole to win 3A medalist. She was immediately mobbed by teammates on the No. 9 green to celebrate her unlikely title.

“I was kind of in shock,” said Benson about the surreal moment. “I putted good today, but it was definitely more on the front nine that my putting was the best, not necessarily the back nine. “But I made those putts a million times, so I knew I could do it if I put the right stroke on it.

” Benson shot a 79 on Wednesday’s opening round and sat in seventh place, five shots behind the leader. She trailed three of her own Morgan teammates, too. In many ways, that helped her relax on a day when a lot of golfers were struggling to do so.