Evan Rieser is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Notre Dame Prep for AZPreps365.com.

Notre Dame Prep staged a second-day comeback that erased a 4-stroke deficit on Thursday at the Dobson Classic. Two under-par individual performances led the Saints as they came back to beat Horizon by only one stroke with a total score of 591 to equal 15 over par. 

Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa hosted 15 high school boys golf teams in the annual Dobson Classic, which took place over two days and 36 holes. 

After Wednesday’s day one, Notre Dame Prep found themselves in third at 9-over-par. Jackson McLaughlin’s 74, Nicholas Stafford’s 76, and Matthew Gahan’s 78 all helped Saints stay in the race but it was sophomore Jack Taylor who lead the day one charge with Notre Dame Prep’s low score of 3-under-par, 69. Taylor found that his iron play was what helped him day one. He said his ability to hit greens in regulation and put the ball in the close led to his success. With the team 9-over-par after day one, Notre Dame Prep was just 1 stroke out from Desert Mountain in second and 4 out from Ironwood Ridge in the lead. 

The second day was all Notre Dame Prep as they were able to erase a 4-stroke deficit and propel themselves into first in the tournament. McLaughlin was Notre Dame Prep’s day two low scorer with a 4-under-par, 68. “I think my ball-striking today was pretty good,” said McLaughlin. “I think coming off yesterday where I missed some greens in some bad spots I was looking to leave stuff out here below holes and I did that well today.” 

McLaughlin wasn’t the only Saints golfer to finish under par on day two. Taylor found himself under par again Thursday with a 2-under, 70 after Wednesday’s 3-under performance. The sophomore said he found his success in different areas on Thursday. Wednesday, Taylor found that his iron play led him but in Thursday’s round he could not say the same. Taylor said it was his putting and short game that allowed him to score well.

Gahan was back at the Dobson Classic for the second time after he was not happy with his performance last year. Gahan finished day two tied as the Saints’ third-lowest scorer at 78. The Notre Dame Prep sophomore felt like putting was what enabled him to build success on the back 9 of day two. Gahan said he felt the first par 5, hole four was a huge momentum builder. After his birdie on the par 5 fourth Gahan played a bogey-free round the rest of the way. Tied with Gahan at 78 was junior Stafford, who found his biggest success off the tee. Hitting fairways was important for Stafford so he would have a chance for birdie. Stafford felt he didn’t capitalize on those opportunities as much as he should have. “I think my ninth hole today, number 18, was important. I made birdie there so I thought I built some momentum going into my back 9 today,” said Stafford. 

It turned out that every shot would matter for the Saints down the stretch. Notre Dame Prep finished first of 15 schools just one stroke in front of Horizon. The Saints boys golf team will play a three-team match at 3 p.m. Sept. 28 against Casteel and Corona Del Sol at the Ken McDonald Golf Course.