SPARKS -- Galena's quest for its second state title was damaged in the first round of the NIAA/U.S. Bank 4A State Tournament on Tuesday at Red Hawk. The Grizzlies, who won state in 1999 and finished third last season, shot a 394 and are seven shots back of leader Green Valley (387) going into today's final round.
Seven shots, though, can easily be made up.
"It was a disappointing day for us," said Pat Flynn, who shot an 82. "But we still gave ourselves a chance to win it tomorrow (today). There are some good, good teams from Las Vegas. But we feel we can keep up with them."
Defending state champion Bishop Gorman is in second place at 388, followed by Coronado (390) and Palo Verde (391). The Grizzlies Matt Kinsinger, who fired a state-record 66 at at tournament earlier this season, shot a 4-over 76 on Tuesday. That puts Kinsinger five shots back of Gorman's Johnny Pinjuv, who is the individual leader after firing a 1-under 71.
Pinjuv was the only player to shoot under par. Coronado's Matt Edwards is one shot back of the lead at even par and Basic's Borum and Reno's Jared Becher are both two shots back. The four players will be grouped in today's final round.
Sparks' Greg Wenzel shot a 2-over 74 in the first round and remains in contention.
"I'm pretty happy with my score but my putting was bad," said Wenzel, whose personal best at Red Hawk is a 72. "I three-putted twice. I was pretty much even or 1-over all day. I just didn't make any big shots. I think a 68 will win it. It was perfect out there today, hopefully it will be tomorrow."
Carson's Steve McQuirk, the lone Senator to qualify for state, shot an 81. He was 6-over after four holes, including a triple bogey on No. 4, but then settled down. Reed's Cody Carpenter and Slater Yohey both fired 76s and South Tahoe's Dan D'Angelo shot a 5-over 77.
"I struggled a little bit," McQuirk said. "After awhile, I knew I wasn't doing that good. I just decided that I'm going to get a par and go with it. That's what I did. I parred No. 5 and then go two more. I just wasn't hitting the ball solid. I got up and down a lot because I wasn't hitting many greens. I got to try to come out tomorrow and bounce back."
Reed and Bonanza are tied for sixth with team totals of 398. McQueen is in eighth at 428 and Foothill is in last at 429.
Kinsinger said at last week's zone tournament he feels Galena can shoot a team total in the 370s. And the Grizzlies are going to have to shoot in that range to win state. Flynn believes it's possible.
"We left a lot of shots out there."