I-A GOLF: Faith Lutheran’s Magruder sets school record, takes commanding lead

Faith Lutheran golf coach Mark Cheney doesn’t believe in discussing outcome when it comes to sports. As a sports psychology teacher, he prefers focusing on the process.

Junior Charlie Magruder couldn’t help himself Tuesday when approaching the 18th hole.

“I’m going for the school record,” Magruder told his coach.

Magruder made one of his seven birdies of the day on the final hole and finished 6-under-par 66 at Palm Valley to break a school record and take a commanding lead at the midway point of the Division I-A Southern Region tournament.

The second round is Wednesday at Siena Golf Club.

“I’ve only felt like this, maybe one or two other times,” Magruder said. “I didn’t birdie a single Par 5, which was a little weird. It was just kind of the same thing as the front nine. I was hitting fairways and greens and then I would have a nice little wedge shot in there and make the putts.”

Magruder, a Gonzaga commit, shot 3-under on the front nine and was the only golfer to go under par on the 6,824-yard course. Six of his seven birdies were on Par 4s.

Boulder City’s Kyler Atkinson shot 1-over-73 and is in second place, and Pahrump Valley’s Austen Ancell — the defending I-A individual state champion — is currently third after shooting a 75. Tech’s Deylin Lees (76) and Faith Lutheran’s Greg Price (77) round out the top five.

“Honestly, I think it all came down to putting,” Magruder said. “I feel like if I weren’t making the putts, I would’ve been right around 1 or 2-(under). Maybe even, even. … It was pretty hot so everything was going a little bit further. But it didn’t affect me. I don’t know. I just felt like I was nice and comfortable out there. I didn’t get nervous.”

The only miscue for Magruder came on hole No. 16, where he pulled his second shot into the bunker. He did, however, recover for bogey on the par-3 hole.

“Pretty much the only bad iron shot I hit all day,” Magruder said. “I just pulled the living heck out of it. Pulled it left into the bunker. I was looking at a double there, but I happened to make the putt for bogey.”

Magruder broke the Crusaders’ previous 18-hole school record of 67.

“He’s just been very solid the last couple of weeks,” Cheney said. “Nothing flashy. He’s putting the ball in a good position, making solid strikes and then putting very well. He makes it look very simple right now. Boring golf is good golf.”

Faith Lutheran, which is seeking its fourth consecutive I-A region title, leads the team scores with a 386. Pahrump Valley is second with a 417, and Boulder City is third with a 444.

“There’s certainly trouble to get into (at Siena on Wednesday),” Cheney said. “It’s tighter and bunkers are deeper. On the flip side, we’re playing shorter yardage. It’ll really be about managing the course and making good decisions off the tee.”

Contact reporter Ashton Ferguson at aferguson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430. Follow him on Twitter: @af_ferguson