STATE GOLF: Foothill standouts take swing at ending Coronado’s three-year title run

After watching Foothill’s Taylor Montgomery and Andrew Chu dominate the field at the Sunrise Region golf tournament last week, Coronado coach Joe Sawaia has an idea of how his team can top the Falcons and keep its streak of state championships alive.

“I’m hoping that Montgomery and Chu don’t make it to the bus,” Sawaia said. “They just played unbelievable.”

Sawaia’s Cougars will be seeking the team’s fourth consecutive boys title when the Division I state tournament tees off at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sierra Sage Golf Course in Reno.

The Division I-A state tournament also tees off at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday at Sierra Sage, and both tournaments end Wednesday.

With Montgomery shooting 12 under par and Chu 6 under, Foothill beat Coronado by 21 strokes to capture the Sunrise title. The Cougars had won five straight region crowns.

“If Chu and Montgomery play like they have been, they’re going to be the odds-on favorite,” Sawaia said. “Otherwise it should be wide open.”

Foothill won’t be the only team with a shot to end Coronado’s state streak. Sawaia thinks Northern Region champion Bishop Manogue will challenge, as well.

The Miners shot 370 on the second day of the Northern Region tournament at Red Hawk in Sparks. That was one stroke better than Coronado’s best regional round. Foothill shot 370 and 364.

“Their second day was 370, which was right with what Foothill shot,” Sawaia said. “But I guarantee their weather wasn’t as good as what we had. Their 370 was probably a little better than our 371 just because of the weather they had.

“I think Manogue, they’re going to be a really good representative of the north.”

Weather also could be a factor in the tournament, especially today. Sawaia expects the wind to kick up in the afternoon, and said the condition of the greens could be a factor with the public playing in the morning.

“The first day’s going to be very interesting for scoring just because of the time of day when we’re going off,” Sawaia said.

“The first day is going to be real key to get off to a good start with the weather and wind and bumpy greens.”

Sawaia also said the course’s poa annua greens could give Southern Nevada’s golfers trouble.

“The poa annua greens give the desert kids more trouble, just because it’s a completely different surface,” he said.

“If we can handle the greens a little better, we’ve got a chance.”