4A STATE: Silverado’s Fisher scrambles back, stands third after first day

Over the last three weeks, Silverado sophomore Josh Fisher has nearly broken a toe, watched most of his Skyhawks golf teammates miss the cut in the Sunrise Region meet and played in groups with region and state champions.

Oh, and he has competed with the best of them.

Fisher carded a 3-over-par 74 on Monday and was in third place after the first day of the Class 4A state boys golf championships at TPC Las Vegas. The final round begins today at noon.

Leader A.J. McInerney of Coronado carded a 3-under 68 that included birdies on the 13th and 14th holes. Churchill County’s Matt Vanderbeek is second with 71.

Tad Darland added a 75 for Coronado, which leads the team standings with 386 strokes to Palo Verde’s 388. Centennial is third with 402.

“The scores have been coming just with the ease of swinging,” said Fisher, who severely sprained his toe playing pickup basketball before regionals. “I practice every day for at least an hour, and the key has been to don’t overswing. I really learned that today. Just because some kid is hitting an 8-iron, it doesn’t mean I have to hit an 8; I can hit a 7 and put it closer.”

Fisher shot 79 on the first day of the Sunrise Region meet but rebounded with a 69 to finish one shot out of a playoff between the other golfers in his group, McInerney and Foothill’s Taylor Montgomery.

Fisher shot five bogeys Monday but scrambled back into contention with two birdies, something he has done well in the latter stages of the season, Silverado coach John Derrick said.

“If he was a basketball player, we’d call him clutch,” Derrick said. “Even last year, he played best at the end of the season. He had his best rounds at regionals and state. It’s the same thing this year. When everything’s on the line, he plays the best. ”

Dillon Dudley paced Palo Verde with 75, and Josh LoManto added a 77.

Greg Kerber shot 78 to lead Centennial.