Making the grade: YC's Bourguignon named Yuma Sun/Yuma Rotary Club 2012 Boys Player of the Year

Grady Bourguignon was the second best golfer in the state last year, and the winner of Division III state tournament was a senior.

So expectations were high for the Yuma Catholic sophomore entering this season.

And while the end result wasn't individual gold, it was still a strong fifth-place finish — as well as helping the Shamrocks win their second straight team title.

For his efforts, Bourguignon won the Yuma Sun/Yuma Rotary Club 2011-2012 Boys Golf Player of the Year for the second straight year.

Bourguignon said he's pleased with the way the season went.

“It's always disappointing not to be the winner, but the team title is what we wanted this year. Especially for our two seniors, we wanted to get those back-to-back titles for them. It's disappointing not to win, but fifth isn't too bad either.”

Whereas par was his high score last year in his two 18-hole rounds at the state tournament, it was his lowest this year. He said most of the improvements came not on a scorecard.

“I think I had a really, really good freshman year. There was room to improve, but this year was more about improving on the right things — not getting low scores all the time but working on the things that might improve me as a player in the future.”

It sets up a junior campaign next year that will see Bourguignon — who played at No. 2 behind Joey Pickels — take over the team. Pickels and Max Coffeen combined with Bourguignon to post low scores — all three finished in the top 15 at state the last two years — and carry the team. There are some players coming back such as Zach Estes, Kody Boyd and Joey Perricone, but none of those three has yet to play at the level of Coffeen, Pickels or Bourguignon.

“If we're going to be there next year, I'll probably challenge him to see if he can put the team up on his shoulders and carry it without all the help he's had,” YC coach Bob Anderson said. “He'll have some help with Zach and Kody and Joey, but really those aren't guys down there at the par marks. It's going to be up to Grady to put some real low scores up there for us.”

He won't have to fire up Bourguignon much — he said he's looking forward to that role.

“I think it's going to be cool to finally have the team be my team,” Bourguignon said. “I think that with the right practice and everything happening just right, we can have a chance next year.”