David Mork

On March 23, 14 members of the IronOaks Niners played golf with 9 of the 12 members of the 3Peat Arizona State Champion Hamilton High Boys Golf Team (HHGT) and their coach Steve Kanner. HHGT has won the Arizona State Championship nine times. Coach Kanner is in his 22nd year at Hamilton, and the team has won the State Title for the years 2005-2009, 2014, and 2019-2021.

Coach Kanner stated during the post-event pizza party that this event is the largest fundraiser for the HHGT. Pizzas were sponsored by the Oakwood HOA3 for the HHGT and contributors. Oakwood Pro Shop gift cards were sponsored by ArizSota Business Consulting Company, and a double-the-gift- card-value prize was awarded to the low gross player for HHGT, Sandiv Mahdwapthy, a sophomore who was 2 under par playing from the blues, as did all HHGT players. Sandiv took the first-place prize gift card, and all other players received Oakwood Pro Shop gift cards.

HHGT players could not tee off until the group in front had hit their second shot. Coach Kanner said on a Sonoran par 4, “Wouldn’t it be something to have the group ahead be off the green prior to the tee shot on a par 4?” That’s what Ethan Adam, a graduate of the HHGT two years ago, did on one of the course’s par 4s. Ethan is attending the Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colo., on a golf scholarship and shot one under for the nine holes. He was home on spring break and wanted to play in the event. The HHGT players showed the Niners “grandpas” how youth can make a difference in a golf event. Most HHGT players had measured their swing speeds in excess of 115 mph.

A special guest of honor at the fundraiser was Dr. Fred DePrez, the founding principal of Hamilton High, a role he held for 17 years until his retirement in 2015. Dr. DePrez was credited with the inception of the HHGT/9rs event, as he had brought Coach Steve Kanner to a Sun Lakes Rotary event in 2014, where the concept of the “play with your grandpa” was suggested to the two of them by me. At the initial event in 2015, the total raised was $910. Over the nine years the event has been held, the total raised reached $20,305. And the rest is history. This 2023 event is the final event for me as event coordinator. Coach Kanner and the current HHGT members presented a plaque to me in appreciation of what was done for the HHGT and for playing a huge role in the team’s success over the years! Thanks to the HHGT, Coach Kanner, Dr. DePrez, Game Manager Len Dolins, the contributing players, the Niners Board, Oakwood HOA3, and the staff at the Oakwood Golf Club for making these past events a success! As has been said before, and for my last and final time, “These kids are good!”