DIVISION I-A GOLF: Risk pays off for Boulder City’s Logan

Luke Logan was nursing a comfortable lead Wednesday when he arrived at the par-4 13th hole at Mountain Falls Golf Club in Pahrump. All the Boulder City sophomore need to do was avoid putting his tee shot in the lake on the left.

So, naturally, Logan pulled out his driver.

“It was risky I guess,” he said. “It was like 200 yards to fly the water, and I knew I could fly it. That was just confidence.”

Logan went on to par No. 13 and fired a 4-over-par 76 to take medalist honors at the Division I-A Southern Region tournament. Logan finished with a two-day total of 3-over 147 and pulled away from Virgin Valley’s Kaden Atkin, who was within four strokes at the turn but ended up nine strokes back after a second straight 78.

“I wasn’t making as many putts as I was hoping to,” said Logan, who won the Class 3A Southern League tournament last year. “I kind of figured I could put it on the green and try to get pars and just make sure I put up a decent round.”

Faith Lutheran made up a four-shot deficit after the first round to win the team title. Dallas Haun (83) and A.J. Johnson (81) tied for fourth at 161 as the Crusaders shot 403 on the 6,671-yard course and finished the tournament with a 812. Faith Lutheran’s Alex Church was sixth at 162 after a team-best 79, while J.R. Tuls (82) was two strokes back in seventh and John Bowers (80) was eighth.

“That’s been the story all year long. It truly was a team effort, and they’re all capable of going low,” Faith Lutheran coach Mark Cheney said. “Also, I know they’re capable of playing better than they did in the region championship, so that’s something to look forward to next week.”

First-round leader Boulder City, which shot 405 on Tuesday at Boulder City Golf Course, posted a 434 to finish 27 shots back. Pahrump Valley was third (961), and all three teams qualify for the Division I-A state tournament Tuesday and Wednesday at Sierra Sage Golf Course near Reno. 

Logan struggled on the front nine and was 5-over for his round after making bogey on the par-4 12th hole. The other three players in Logan’s group hit an iron off the tee on No. 13, but Logan’s aggressiveness paid off as he left himself about 75 yards to the green for his second shot.

“That made me feel like I’m still playing good,” Logan said. “I just needed to make putts on the greens.”

Logan wasn’t able to make his 15-footer for birdie on No. 13, but the hole set up a strong finish. Logan played the final six holes in 1-under, including a birdie on the par-5 15th.   

“After nine, I tried to just get par on the back and I figured I would be fine with whatever I shot,” Logan said. “After I was halfway through the back nine, I kind of figured I was going to win.”