DIVISION I GOLF: Palo Verde takes advantage of afternoon conditions, grabs opening-round lead

It was a Midwestern, wait-five-minutes-and-the-weather-will-change kind of day at Reflection Bay Golf Club.

The opening nine holes of the Division I state boys golf tournament on Tuesday featured dark skies and gusty winds, followed by sunshine and hardly any breeze on the back nine.

Palo Verde made sure to take advantage of the favorable afternoon conditions.

Led by junior Jack Trent, the Panthers’ five scoring golfers combined to play the final nine holes in 2 over par, and Palo Verde grabbed the lead after the opening round.

The Panthers shot 15-over 375 and lead Coronado (388) and upstart Arbor View (389) heading into Wednesday’s final round that tees off at 11 a.m. at Reflection Bay.

“I just thought it was very difficult, windy on the front nine and then the wind settled and I think we kind of moved ahead on the back, which was good to see,” Palo Verde coach Todd Steffenhagen said. “I think the conditions (Wednesday) are going to be favorable for everybody. … I think you might be able to attack a little bit more and do some of that stuff.

“When you sleep on the lead, there’s going to be people coming after you and being aggressive. I expect it to be a pretty good shootout till the end.”

Trent, the defending state champion, shot 2-under 70 and is tied for the individual lead with Arbor View’s Sam Dickey. Coronado’s Grant McKay is a stroke back after a round of 71.

Trent was stuck in neutral after he four-putted for double bogey on the par-3 No. 12 — the players began their rounds on No. 10 — but he eagled the par-5 third hole and birdied No. 7 to earn a share of the lead.

Dickey, who signed with New Mexico, got to 3 under after a birdie on No. 6, which was his 15th hole. He bogeyed his 17th hole then nearly holed out for birdie from a greenside bunker on his final hole before curling in a difficult par putt.

“That putt on the second-to-last hole is the only putt inside 20 feet I missed all day,” Dickey said. “I had the confidence that every time I got to the green I was going to make the putt no matter how long it was. A lot of the times that was the case. Didn’t hit the ball great. I hit some really good shots, but my putting was just outstanding.”

Cameron Barzekoff shot 74, and Sunset Region medalist Cameron Meeks carded a 75 for Palo Verde, which is looking for its first state team title since 2008.

McKay overcame a slow start with four birdies in a five-hole stretch on his front nine. He scrambled for par on No. 5, his 14th hole, after his second shot on the uphill par 5 nearly went in a pond and added another birdie on the par-3 No. 8.

“That was a great bounce back after losing in a playoff at region,” Coronado coach Joe Sawaia said. “He’s been really steady all year, so I was really happy for him. That was great to see. Especially from a four-year senior, that was awesome.”

Dylan Fritz (77) and Ethan Bozner (78) were the only other players to break 80 for Coronado.

“We’re within shouting distance, I would say, but we certainly have to clean things up (Wednesday),” Sawaia said. “I think we made enough birdies to be competitive … (Palo Verde) just made less big numbers than us.

“It’s a 36-hole event, and our guys are going to come out and play hard (Wednesday). They know what’s in front of them.”

Shadow Ridge’s Tanner Johnson shot 73 and is tied for fourth place with Bishop Manogue’s Ollie Osborne. Jayrick Cadelina-Canyete of Liberty, Christian James of Bishop Gorman and Foothill’s Noah MacFawn each shot 76 and are tied for eighth.