Boulder City girls win 3A Southern League title

The bull’s-eye on the backs of Boulder City’s girls golf team only had an effect for the first few holes Thursday.

After that, the Eagles settled down and did what they spent most of the Class 3A golf season doing — taking care of business.

Margot Potter shot an 86, including a 2-over-par 38 on the final nine, to lead the Eagles to the Southern League Tournament championship at Boulder City Municipal Golf Course.

The Eagles had a team score of 389. Virgin Valley was second at 435. Faith Lutheran (454) took third. The top two teams and top five individuals not on one of those two teams advance to the state meet, which begins Monday in Elko.

“We were the favorites going in, and I think that got to some of our girls early,” Boulder City coach Regina Quintero said. “It took them a while to settle down.”

All six Eagles had a better back nine than front. As a team, Boulder City shot 211 on the front nine but only 178 on the closing nine.

Potter had a 10-stroke improvement from the front nine to the back nine.

“Margot’s work ethic is fantastic,” Quintero said. “She works on all parts of her game, and her work ethic rubs off on everyone else.”

Ashley Vince shot a 95 for the Eagles, including a 43 on the closing nine, and Bree Morang added a 99.

Faith Lutheran’s Ashley Lacher won the individual crown with an 85, beating Potter by one stroke.

“I just started playing two years ago,” said Lacher, who was named the league’s player of the year. “This is a dream come true.”

Lacher had a three-stroke lead at the turn and shot a 40 on the back nine.

“The work she has put in over the summer has paid off,” Faith Lutheran coach Mark Cheney said. “She has had a great season.”

All four Crusaders qualified as individuals.

“We’ve been finishing in third place all season,” Cheney said. “Last week, we were two strokes out of second, and we thought we had a shot today.”

Felisha Baeza led Virgin Valley with a 95. The Bulldogs led Faith Lutheran for second by only six strokes after nine holes but widened the gap on the back nine.

“I’m glad we’re moving on to state. Hopefully it’ll give the girls a chance to redeem themselves,” Virgin Valley coach Bubba Smith said. “The thing I’m most proud of is they didn’t quit. Faith had us beaten, but our girls all improved on the back nine.”

Moapa Valley’s Haley Causey, who took fifth with a 102, was the only Pirates golfer to qualify for state.