SUNSET GOLF: Arbor View holds on to win first region boys golf title

Arbor View boys golf coach David Fish checked the team scores a little after the midway point of the final round in the Division I Sunset Region tournament and started to get nervous.

The Aggies’ lead, which was 10 strokes when play started Wednesday at exclusive Reflection Bay Golf Club, had been cut to two by Palo Verde.

“That was the uh-oh moment,” Fish said.

Anchored by Van Thomas and Sam Dickey, Arbor View held it together on the back nine despite the howling wind at Lake Las Vegas and went on to its first region championship.

The Aggies finished the two-day tournament at 66-over-par 786, 10 shots ahead of second-place Palo Verde (796). Bishop Gorman was third at 802 as all three teams posted a second-round 405 on the 6,682-yard layout, which hosted President Obama in November.

The top two teams and the top five individuals from nonqualifying teams advance to the Division I state tournament, which starts Monday at Montreux Golf and Country Club in Reno.

“I’m just very proud of them that we were finally able to get over that hurdle,” Fish said. “Palo and Gorman started to fight back, and we had to kind of minimize our mistakes in this wind, and we were able to do that towards the end.”

Palo Verde sophomore Jack Trent won the individual title as he posted the only under-par round of the day. The native of Australia was able to control his ball flight in the difficult conditions and fired a 2-under 70 that included six birdies.

Trent finished the tournament at 3-under 141, five shots ahead of Thomas.

“Playing in the wind, this should help me in the British Open, I guess,” Trent cracked. “I kept it in play and played smart shots. I tried to play against the wind and hold it up.”

Trent holed out from a greenside bunker on No. 9 for one of his four birdies on the front side. He made a delicate chip to within a few feet to help save par on No. 14 and went on to birdie the par-5 18th.

“It gives me a lot of confidence going into state,” Trent said. “I’m trying to win state, so this was just a stepping stone. There was some good, quality golf that I had to hold off. I stayed in control the whole day and played my game.”

Thomas, the defending state champion, shot a final-round 74, and Dickey shot 79 and finished sixth at 152. Freshman Cameron Gambini posted a 78 and was eighth at 154 as the trio played the back nine in even par to lift the Aggies.

Palo Verde was boosted by 81s from Bradley Collet, who finished tied for 10th at 161, and Jun Oshimoto as it narrowly advanced to state. Bishop Gorman’s Christian James shot 77 and was fourth at 150, and teammate Owen Rosebeck shot 75 to jump up to fifth at 151.

Desert Oasis’ Syouta Wakisaka shot 76 and finished alone in third place at 149.