STATE GOLF: Logan’s roller-coaster ride allows Pirates’ Causey to grab lead in Division I-A tourney

Luke Logan needed some excitement.

After opening his round with 10 straight pars at Mountain Falls Golf Club in Pahrump, the junior from Boulder City decided it was time to get aggressive and try to make a few birdies.

It proved to be a costly move.

Logan endured an adventurous finish and shot a 1-over-par 73 on Wednesday in the first round of the Division I-A boys state golf tournament.

Moapa Valley’s Jacob Causey carded a 71 and will carry a two-stroke lead into Thursday’s final round.

“I decided pars were too boring for me,” Logan said with a self-depricating laugh.

Logan, the defending champion, birdied the par-5 11th hole to get to 1 under, but his troubles started on No. 12. Logan pulled his drive way left, and his ball stopped underneath a tree, giving him no angle toward the green.

A rules official informed Logan he would not be penalized if he touched the branches during his backswing, but Logan opted not to take a full swing and was only able to knock the ball 15 yards forward. His third shot from out of the rough missed the green long, and he went on to post a double-bogey 6.

“I figured I was leading the tournament, and the last thing I want to do is do something I know is wrong, even though the rules official told me it was right,” Logan said. “I could have got another 50 yards out of it. It was a big difference, but I wanted to play it the right way.”

Following a par on No. 13, Logan drained a 35-foot downhill putt for birdie on No. 14 to get back to even par.

“When I hit it, I thought, ‘It looks good. I hope it hits the cup,’ ” Logan said. “Once it got over the ridge, if it didn’t hit the cup it would have been 20 feet by.”

But Logan limped home, playing the final four holes in 1 over. He bogeyed the par-5 15th hole and, after a birdie on the 16th, he lipped out a short par putt on No. 18.

“On the back nine, there were times when I got tired of pars,” Logan said. “I made mistakes and was giving them away. Some of the greens were quick, and I don’t think any of us were ready for that.”

Causey made three birdies and no bogeys on the front side. He struggled on the back nine with bogeys on No. 11, 12 and 14 before a birdie on the par-4 18th hole.

Faith Lutheran’s Charlie Magruder, who was in the same predicament as Logan under the tree on No. 12, shot 77 and is in fourth place. Teammate Trenton May shot 78 and is in a three-way tie for fifth.

Lowry leads the team standings after a 390, while Faith Lutheran shot 403 to remain in contention. Boulder City was third at 418.

Chris Young of White Pine fired a 73 and has a one-shot lead over Dylan Smith of Incline in Division III. Zarek Phillips of Needles is third at 76.

Needles shot 413 and leads Battle Mountain (434) and White Pine (443) in the team standings. The final two groups, including players in three of the competing teams, did not finish due to darkness. They will resume play at 8 a.m. Thursday.