Hillcrest High’s boys golf team wrapped up the season with a solid performance, finishing right about where head coach Dave Richardson expected.

“We were fourth in the region this year,” he said. “It’s a solid finish.”

The highlight was freshman Jack Burrell placing sixth in the region to qualify for the state tournament.

“He played in the state tournament,” Richardson said. “He’s 5-foot-1-inch and weighs 90 pounds soaking wet, and they had some tee boxes at Talons Cove — I didn’t even know were there. They're that far back. He can hit the ball straight, but it was such a long course; with his size, he doesn't hit it 300 yards, like the 6-foot-1-inch kids do.”

Despite the distance challenge, Burrell still turned in a respectable score.

“He shot 88 his first time at the state tournament,” Richardson said, but added he didn’t make the cut to play the second day.

It’s the first golfer Hillcrest who has qualified for state in recent years and the coach believes the program is heading in the right direction.

“I got an underclassman group that's really dedicated — a bunch of freshmen and sophomores I think could be good. They played a lot of varsity this year,” he said.

Richardson hopes that commitment continues into the offseason.

“They’ve all promised they'll get a job on one of the county courses so they can play for free. They seem pretty dedicated,” he said. “Those four guys — Connor Jackson, Bridger Barlow, Riley Morgan and Jack Burrell— they're going to be the basis for the team next year.”

Hillcrest’s best finish this season came at its home course, River Oaks.

“We placed third beating West Jordan,” Richardson said.

Overall, Hillcrest showed steady progress throughout the season, usually finishing close behind West Jordan.

“We were just usually within three or four strokes of West Jordan,” he said. “If we get out and practice in the offseason, I have high hopes for next year.”