SUNSET REGION: Freshman Becker leads Crusaders to title
Brianna Becker knew she held a lead over teammate Annie Freman, but the Faith Lutheran freshman had no idea it was only one stroke after a three-putt bogey on the 17th hole.
Luckily for Becker, she bounced back in a hurry to par the final hole and hold off Freman to seal the 4A Sunset Region individual championship.
The consolation prize for Freman isn’t so bad either: the Crusaders claimed their first 4A region crown in history — in convincing fashion — Thursday at Bear’s Best.
Becker’s 1-under 70 and Freman’s even-par 71 paced Faith Lutheran, and Ashley Lacher finished with a fifth-overall 77 as the Crusaders announced their arrival in Nevada’s top classification by beating traditional power Bishop Gorman by 35 strokes, 304 to 339.
Both teams advance to the state tournament at Boulder Creek in Boulder City on Tuesday and Wednesday.
“I knew we were capable of great numbers,” Faith Lutheran coach Mark Cheney said. “We didn’t really shoot them the past two weeks. I thought we were due for good numbers. We came in with great numbers.”
Becker, a standout in southern Nevada junior golf along with Freman and Lacher, felt the pressure on the 18th tee after her only three-putt of the day. Playing in the No. 2 slot for the Crusaders, Becker could feel fellow freshman Freman on her heels all day.
“I knew Annie was doing good, but that was it,” Becker said.
Becker did a little bit better thanks to her play around and on the green. She only needed 26 putts in her round, playing the four par-3 holes at 3-under, and shot the low nine holes of the day with a 34 on the front nine.
“My short game was a lot better,” Becker said. “I was putting everything close.”
Spring Valley’s Julia Graham finished third with a 73, staying in contention with Becker and Freman until she picked up a bogey on the 17th hole and double bogey on No. 18. Nicole Corpus of Bishop Gorman fired a 74 to place fourth,
Graham advances to the state tournament as an individual qualifier, along with Arbor View’s Alyssa Ballew (83), Spring Valley’s Alyssa Wilson (95), Arbor View’s Shaylee Hollan (97) and Deloise Daniels (97), and Cimarron-Memorial’s Kellie Busse (97).
