Carson golf struggles, in fifth

After arguably its worst round of the year, the Carson High boys golf team will likely have to come back with its best performance today to have any shot at qualifying for the NIAA 4A State Championships - and even then it might not be good enough.

Carson finds itself in fifth after the first day of the Northern 4A Tournament on Tuesday in Elko, firing a 404. The Senators trail second place Spanish Springs by 15 strokes.

Fallon has all but wrapped up the title with a 370 and is followed by Spanish Springs, Galena (393) and Elko (400). Rounding out the team scores are Reno (410), Douglas (437) and South Tahoe (443).

The top two teams advance to state. "That's almost unreachable," said Carson coach Rod Butler about catching Galena and Spanish Springs.

Butler said all of his players will have to shoot under 78 and that his team will have to receive help from Spanish Springs and Galena to have any chance of making state. He also said he believes if his team can catch Galena, it can catch Spanish Springs as the Grizzlies are the more experienced team.

"If we can catch Galena, we'll catch Spanish Springs," Butler said. "Fallon played great golf.

Fallon's so far ahead they've shot themselves to a point where nobody can catch them. Spanish Springs and Galena played really well, too."

Carson's two most solid golfers were Scott Jenkins who fired a 74 and J.T. Cockerill, who had a 76. The top score was a 1-under-71. Jenkins, though, was really the only Senator golfer who shot what he was capable of.

The rest of the Senator golfers struggled. Matt Mitchell shot an 84, Jimmy Potter had an 88, Zach Rispin had an 82 and Spencer Brinson had an 88.

If Jenkins and Cockerill can shoot under 75, those two could qualify for state if the team doesn't make it, Butler said.

Butler said his team struggled on the back nine and on the greens. He said his team lost about 10 shots on the back nine.