4A STATE GOLF: Windy conditions could hamper contenders
No one could ask for better playing conditions than what the girls in last week’s Class 4A golf regionals in Southern Nevada enjoyed last week at Bear’s Best.
When play tees off Tuesday in the first of two days of play in the 4A state tournament at Boulder Creek, the temperature might be as nice as last week, but forecast windy conditions up to 25 mph on the desert layout could pose a challenge for Nevada’s best high school girls golfers.
The convincing fashion in which Green Valley and Faith Lutheran, the respective Sunrise and Sunset Region champion, won their tournaments suggests they won’t be fazed by the conditions, the course or anything else.
“We’ve played Boulder Creek before, and we like that course,” said Green Valley’s Alex Kaui, the Sunrise Region individual champion.
The Gators claimed the Sunrise title by 57 strokes over second-place Coronado, and the Crusaders handled runner-up Bishop Gorman by 35 shots. All four teams will represent Southern Nevada at state, along with the top five players from nonqualifying teams in each region.
“We know we’ve got to bring our 'A’ game to be successful,” Gators coach Greg Murphy said. “I think our girls will be ready for that challenge.”
The Gators will face stiff competition from Faith Lutheran, which posted three scores at 77 or better in the Sunset tournament. Best in the group was Brianna Becker, the region champion at 1-under-par 70, one stroke better than teammate Annie Freman.
“We’ll practice really hard,” Becker said of preparing for state. “We all really want to win. I think we can do it.”
Teams from the North played a two-day region tournament at Eagle Valley in Carson City.
Alex Phillips, a senior from Bishop Manogue, enters the state tournament as the Northern Region champion.
Phillips shot 75-75 for a 6-over total, good enough to win the region crown by 11 shots over teammate Mackenzie Sowers and Bethany Wurster of Douglas. Champion Bishop Manogue and runner-up Elko are the Northern team qualifiers.
