Kylee Loewe is an ASU Cronkite School of Journalism student assigned to cover Sandra Day O’Connor High School for AZPreps365.com. 

GLENDALE – Sandra Day O’Connor girls golf soared to an 8-shot victory over Mountain Ridge at the 500 Club Golf Course on Wednesday evening.

The Eagles were led by senior Sienna Mayo, who finished as the medalist with a 4-over-par 40 in her first round as an Eagle after sitting out the first half of the season due to transfer rules.

“I was a little nervous to play today,” Mayo said. “Just because I felt like I had to play well so I could prove myself on the team and show that I deserve a spot.”

Sandra Day O’Connor coach Jim Horyza said he was eager to finally see his senior in action.

“I was anxious for her to get back out here and see what she can do,” Horyza said. “She did well, so I think it’ll just be up from here for her.”

Mayo played a steady round, carding only two bogeys and a double bogey. Although she expressed frustration with her score, Mayo said she was encouraged by certain aspects of her game.

“My strength today was my putting,” she said. “I felt like I made a lot of clutch putts that saved my pars after not-great shots.”

Her teammate, junior Aleena Pirzada, also contributed to the Eagles’ win with a 7-over-par 43.

Pirzada, like Mayo, said she was disappointed in her score but noted progress in her short game.

“Short game is really important to me,” Pirzada said. “It’s your whole game because most of your strokes come from there. Once you get to the green, that’s all you, and you can’t take it back.”

Pirzada showcased her short-game touch on the fourth hole, where she recovered from hitting into the water with a chip-in to save par on the par-4  island green.

“I’m a big overthinker, so when shots like the one I hit in the water happen, I try to just block it out,” Pirzada said. “I just like to think about what I want to do for the next shot.”

While O’Connor celebrated its win, Mountain Ridge found positives of its own. Coach Peter Evans said he was proud of the way his players kept competing.

“I’m proud that we aren’t giving up and we’re staying positive and focusing on the good shots,” Evans said.

Evans highlighted junior Peyton Decosta, noting that even on an off day, she posted a score many teams would welcome.

Decosta took second place after carding a 5-over-par 41 with five bogeys on the scorecard and finishing with two steady pars.

“I know what I have to work on for my match tomorrow,” Decosta said. “I hit some balls on the range after the round and worked on the things I struggled with, so I think that’s a positive feeling going into tomorrow.”

While Decosta said her biggest challenge was with the driver, she added she has been proud of her mental game.

“I worked with Vision54, and they have helped me a lot,” Decosta said. “I’m focusing on keeping all my thoughts behind the ball, so then when I get up to it, I know what I have to do to execute it.”

Evans said he has seen Decosta’s confidence grow since she began working with Vision54 and looks forward to seeing the rest of his Mountain Lions continue to stay positive throughout the season.

Sandra Day O’Connor will host 13 teams, including Mountain Ridge, in the OC Golf Tournament at Palmbrook Golf Club on Thursday morning.

Horyza said he is eager to see how his team builds off Wednesday’s win.

“We got this out of the way,” Horyza said. “And now the focus can be tomorrow’s tournament, and we’d like to win it.”