PHOENIX – The Notre Dame Preparatory boys’ golf team defeated Saguaro High School in their match Tuesday at the Pine Course at McCormick Ranch Golf Club.

Sophomore Fin Vander Ark and freshman Xander Mulder shot the low score for the match.

The Saints came into the match ranked number one in their division by the Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) while Saguaro ranked third.

So far this season, Notre Dame Prep has played in four matches and won them all.

Tuesday was no different.

In golf matches, teams only play nine holes compared to a tournament where they will play two days of 18 holes.

“We have a really young team that is very talented,” Notre Dame Prep coach Scott Watkins said. “We are now undefeated in all our nine-hole matches and they are progressing together as a team.”

With their victories in matches this season, the Saints overtook Catalina Foothills High in the AIA rankings, finding themselves in the number one spot by three-and-a-half strokes, Watkins said.

Vander Ark and Mulder both shot the low round of the match at 1-under-par 35 for nine holes. The team walked away on top of Saguaro with a total of 145, 1-over as a team.

“I shot 1-under today and was pretty happy with my round,” Vander Ark commented. “I was happy with a chip-in. The course wasn’t bad, but the rough was really tough.”

Freshman Frederick Egnatios shot the third-best score on the team with a 1-over-par 37.

“I handled myself well out there,” Egnatios said after his round. “I stayed centered and if I made a bogey, I tried to work on bouncing back.”

Landon Ashcraft, the freshman in the top five of the AIA Division Two rankings, ended the day with a 2-over-par 38. He rounded out the top four scores that counted toward the team total.

“I felt pretty good out there and my swing felt good,” Ashcraft said. “It just wasn’t the best day in scoring.”

With Tuesday's victory, Notre Dame Prep remains undefeated in its nine-hole matches. This match will not only help the Saints' ranking, but it also boosts their confidence continuing into the season.

“We have a really good chance at state,” Egantios said when asked about their chances of winning the championship after another match victory. “We just have to make sure we don’t get ahead of ourselves and keep practicing together.”

Notre Dame Preparatory remains the favorite going into the rest of this season. The Saints are the top ranked boys golf team in Division Two with one player, Landon Ashcraft, ranked in the top five for individuals.

Everyone on the team believes they have a great shot at winning the state championship this season in November at Tucson National.

The team will have their next match against the Division One team of Chaparral High School on September 20 at the Padre Course at Camelback Golf Club.