Sophia Sarrazin earns FCIAC Medalist Title at Championships

Freshman Sensation Sophia Sarrazin of Staples High School proved every bit her nickname as she took home the FCIAC Girls’ Golf Championship Medalist Title, shooting the lowest score of even par 73 at Fairchild Wheeler Black course on Thursday, May 30.

Sarrazin was mobbed by her teammates as she walked off the 18th green, just missing a putt for eagle on the final hole par 5, as the live scoring tipped off the bystanders that she had the lowest round in a field crowded with elite golfers. She tapped in for her fifth birdie of the day.

In the pairing with the ninth-grader were fellow ALL FCIAC golfers senior captain Morgan Hibbert of New Canaan, and Greenwich’s junior Sydney Nethercott, who both shot 76 in a tie for runner-up medalist honors.

“It was cool and we all played similarly,” said Sarrazin. “We were all on the same level. It was fun and they were really nice to play with,” said the freshman of her first FCIAC Championship competition.

“Sophia’s score propelled us to a fourth place finish in the FCIAC, which I’ll take since all five golfers had never played in the tournament,” said Coach Patty Kondub. “For her to shake off an eight on the par-4 8th hole, and dial back into her zone and have three more birdies on the back 9, is the mark of a champion,” added Kondub.

Sarrazin’s 73 is actually the lowest-ever FCIAC round in Staples Girls’ Golf history, and it’s looking like this is just the start of a historic career for the young golfer in the program, which last won FCIACS in 2016.

The team now turns to the State Championship on Tuesday, an 8:30AM shotgun at Tashua Knolls in Trumbull. As an individual Sarrazin is ranked third in the entire State, and Staples as a team is ranked fifth in the State, behind undefeated and FCIAC Champion New Canaan, FCIAC runner-up Fairfield Warde, Greenwich and Wethersfield.