It was a bittersweet day for the Carson High girls golf team at the Northern 4A Championships on Wednesday at Red Hawk.
Despite playing its best golf of the year over the two days, the Senators missed qualifying for the NIAA 4A State Champions by six strokes. And while Lydia Peri was able to qualify for the state event as an individual, Michelle Kop's high school career came to a heartbreaking end. For the second straight year, the senior missed qualifying for state by one stroke.
Carson shot its best round of the year on Wednesday, shooting a 461, improving on its previous best of 471 on Tuesday. But that wasn't still good enough.
As frustrated as Carson had to be, Galena had to be even more frustrated, missing out on a state berth by one stroke. Douglas High continued to dominate the event, winning the Northern 4A title with an 847 (422-425).
Spanish Springs earned the second and final berth to state with a 926 (459-467), edging the Grizzlies by one stroke (468-459-927). Carson was fourth at 932. Rounding out the team standings were South Tahoe (493-502-995), Elko (504-503-1007), Manogue (519-500-1019) and Reno High (526-549-1075).
The state event will be held on Monday and Tuesday in Las Vegas. "It was a tough in a lot of ways," Carson coach Terry Gingell said. "It was a could've, would've, should've."
Douglas High freshman Bethany Wurster won the individual title, following up her 2-over-par 74 with a 73 for a 147 total, finishing with three birdies. "It was a fabulous performance," Gingell said. "Very impressive."
Manogue's Alex Phillips took one of the five state qualifying spots for players on nonqualifying teams as she finished second with a 155 (80-75). Douglas High's Katie Gettman was third (84-84-168) and Peri was fourth (88-81-169).
Douglas High's Michele Nikkels tied for fourth (79-90-169). Damonte Ranch's Taylor Quienalty moved all the way up to sixth to take another state qualifying spot at 171 (91-80).
Douglas High's Heather Henderson was seventh (90-83-173). The other two qualifying spots from nonqualifying teams were taken by Fallon's Rachel Vanderbeek 91-84-175), who took ninth overall and Galena's Colleen Mullins (94-83-177), who was 10th. Kop was 11th (87-91-178).
"Lydia had it going," said Gingell about Peri's 81. "She played a very solid round of golf."
"It just wasn't to be for Michelle," said Gingell about Kop. "She really deserved to go. She had her ups and downs here and there. She played very well.
"She's had a wonderful high school career. A very good player. A good kid and a great leader of the team."
Also for Carson, Chelsea Keating shot a career-best 89. She overcame a 10 on the back nine to finish with five straight pars. Katy Cowperthwaite had her best score of 95 and Julia Lapham and Elayna Shine each shot a 105. Lapham lowered her score by five strokes from Tuesday.
"I'm very pleased with our performance as a team," Gingell said. "It was a great showing as a team. We had some very good rounds.
"It was all good. I'm very impressed with them. All in all it was a great performance. We gave it our best. That's all you can ask."