Now that the Carson High golf team has completed its perfect run through the Sierra League, it can begin concentrating on the Northern 4A Championships.
The Senators won its sixth league tournament in six tries, shooting a 372 on Tuesday at the Eagle Valley East Course. Kevin Goles was the low score medalist for Carson, shooting a 1-under-par 71.
Carson had a 1-2-3 finish as Isaac Holt finished second with a 73 and Zack Rispin was third with a 74. Also for Carson Sam Staub was sixth with a 75, Jonathan Singer shot a 79 and Ryan Livermore had an 83. "A great day for those guys," Carson coach Rod Butler said. "They played really well."
But Butler added he also expected his team to play well on the East course, the easier of the two Eagle Valley courses.
"I really expected everybody to shoot in the 70s," Butler said. "It's one of our home courses."
Even in the windy conditions, Butler said, "I still figured if the guys played well they would shoot in the 70s."
Reno High was second with a 391 and South Tahoe was third with a 402 as both schools also move on to zone. Despite a fourth place finish at 409, Douglas High didn't earn the fourth and final spot to zone.
Wooster had a two-point lead over Douglas and held on to the fourth qualifying spot by finishing fifth at 435.
Butler said that Goles, Holt and Rispin will all play at zone, but hasn't decided on his other three players. He said five players are still competing for three spots.
Spanish Springs is the favorite to win the zone event, which begins on Monday at Sparks' Red Hawk. On paper, Carson, Galena, Manogue and Fallon are all in contention for the second and final qualifying spot for the NIAA 4A State Championships. All four schools' scores have been close to each other throughout the year.
"We had one bad tournament," Butler said. "The rest of them we've been pretty consistent.
"They don't have to play their best as long as they don't have any bad scores. I think we've got a great shot."
Butler said the goal will be to shoot 400 or below each day at zone. On Tuesday, along with being led by Goles, Staub fired the lowest score he's ever shot. "He played really well," said Butler about Goles. "They really all did their part."