Three-peat for Carson golfers

The last two seasons the Carson High golf team swept through the Sierra League without losing a tournament.

That streak was broken at the outset of this season when arch-rival Douglas knocked off the Senators in the first two tournaments of the season. That prompted coach Rod Butler to call a team meeting.

"I told them that we couldn't win the league if we lost to Douglas again no matter what," Butler said. "That's when we started our roll.

"We hadn't really talked about it (a three-peat) much. I think we were taking it for granted. I think we thought we were going to walk in and not have any problems."

Carson was unbeatable the rest of the season, including its fourth straight tournament win on Tuesday afternoon in less-than-desirable conditions at Silver Oak Golf Club in the final league tournament of the regular season.

Carson, led by medalist Jonathan Singer with a 76 and Sam Staub who was second with an 80, finished with 415, followed by Reno at 449, Douglas 450, South Tahoe 453, Damonte Ranch 458, Wooster 471, North Valleys 523 and Hug 578.

The Senators will be joined by Douglas, Reno and Damonte Ranch at next Monday and Tuesday's 4A Regional at Genoa Lakes and Resort courses. Damonte Ranch claimed the fourth and final spot over South Tahoe on a tie-breaker. Only four strokes separated the teams during the six league tournaments.

"I think it was an excellent round in that stuff," said Butler, referring to the 40 mile-per-hour winds that had flagsticks bent over in half at times and the dust that made it tough to see at times. "Look at our last two guys (Isaac Holt (90) and Jordan Rogers (93). The scores appear high, but everybody was having trouble on the back side. Both of them did pretty well on the front.

"We're definitely going to have to shoot better next week. I think we have to shoot better than 400 on both days. If the weather is decent, the teams that go under 400 both days will move on (to state)."

Again, the weather was a factor just like last Wednesday on the first day of the Carson Invitational. Singer and Staub were the only two golfers to shoot 80 or below.

"It was definitely windier this week," said Carson's Ryan Livermore, who shot an 85. "I think it was colder last week."

"I tried not to let it (the wind) affect my routine," said Singer, who tried to putt as his hat fell off last week. "The wind would stop and I would hit the ball real quick (last week). I only made that mistake twice today."

Not much stopped the left-handed Singer, who was obviously pleased with his round.

"I just hit the ball well," Singer said. "I hit pretty much all the greens. I was a little disappointed after the first four holes because I had putts for birdies, but just didn't finish."

On the front, he carded seven pars and two bogeys en route to a 2-over-par 35.

Singer fell to 4-over-par after bogeys at No. 10 and No. 12. He had a great par on the toughest hole on the course, the par-4 411-yard par-4 13th when he chipped to 6 feet and drained the putt. On the 536-yard 15th, Singer hit driver and a 9-iron that rolled over the green. He missed an eagle opportunity, settling for a birdie.

Staub said yesterday's round ranks in his top three of the season. His best round of the season was a 77 at Wildcreek three weeks ago.

"The key was hitting the ball low off the tee today," Staub said. "I was trying to keep my drives low. I was aiming my shots to conform to the wind. I also used more irons off the tee than normal."

Staub was level par after registering a birdie on No. 4, a 304-yard par-4. He hit a 4-iron off the tee and lofted a sand wedge to within 6 feet and drained the putt. He bogeyed two of the last four holes to make the turn at 2-over-37.

After a bogey at No. 10, Staub birdied No. 11 thanks to a pitching wedge approach that left him with just a tap-in. Unfortunately he didn't finish strong, registering a double-bogey and five bogeys over the last seven holes.

Zack Rispin, who finished with an 84, third-best on the squad, had his round ruined by one bad hole.

Rispin made the turn at 3-over 38 following five pars and three bogeys. He bogeyed No. 10 after finding a fairway bunker on the left.

That's when his round got ugly as he recorded a nine on the par-4 11th.

Rispin drove his 3-wood through the dogleg, leaving himself about 140 yards to the pin. He hit an 8-iron that cleared the green and the street behind the green. He went back to the spot, dropped a ball and hit a pitching wedge again over the green and out of bounds. He dropped yet another ball and hit a sand wedge short of the green. He chipped on and two-putted.

He followed with two straight bogeys and a double-bogey before recording pars at Nos. 15 and 16. On No. 17, he drove the ball to the front edge of the 338-yard par-4, but four-putted for a bogey. He finished the round with a birdie at No. 18, sinking a 5-foot putt.

• Contact Darrell Moody at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281