by Chris Pfaff, Xavier Sportswriter, interviewing Isabella Piazza

On Thursday, September 19, the scene was set: a high school girls golf match between the Xavier Gators and Mountain View Toros. As expected, Xavier easily won by a wide margin: 157 to 190.

But the story that emerged was an insane 9-hole score performed and recorded by junior Isabella Piazza. Isabella shot a five-under-thirty-one.

HOLE 1: par 5, 455 yards
Piazza scored an eagle on the first hole, prophetic of the successful round she was about to experience. Her tee shot traveled about 240 yards down the fairway.

Pulling out a hybrid club for an approach shot, Isabella hit the ball about 215 yards, landing the ball just off the green. Note: the standard for a par five is taking three shots to reach the green and then two-putting. Isabella was just off the green in only two shots.

Decision time: putt or chip. She chose to chip, and the ball found the hole — a no-putt.

Two under par after 1 hole.

HOLE 5: par 4, 240 yards

Piazza’s tee shot reached the green, except it landed in the greenside bunker. No worries today; her bunker shot came to rest about a foot from the hole, and she knocked it in for a birdie.

Three under par after 5 holes.

HOLE 7: par 5, 488 yards

Isabella landed her tee shot in the fairway, laid up her second shot short of the green, and executed a chip shot to within two feet of the hole. She was in control — another birdie.

Four under par after 7 holes.

HOLE 9: par 4, 316 yards

Piazza’s tee shot found the fairway again — she couldn’t remember missing any fairways that day. Her approach shot landed on the green about 15 feet from the hole.

That fifteen feet contained a precariously hard break on the way to the hole. Topping off an amazingly successful round, Isabella said, “… I played the break right, and it went in.”

Of course, it did.

Five under par after 9 holes.

On Thursday, September 19, playing golf at the Phoenix Country Club, it was good to be Isabella Piazza. A round of golf to remember.