Fresh off his individual win at last week's Northern 4A golf tournament, Carson High's Jonathan Singer is out to prove he's one of the elite junior golfers in the entire state.
Singer and 51 other golfers converge on the Red Hawk Lakes course today for the start of the 36-hole NIAA 4A State Golf Championship.
Singer, who carded an 8-over 150 to win the tournament, will tee off at 11:48 a.m. with the two individual champions from the Las Vegas area " senior Raymond Gillip of Las Vegas High and Zane Thomas, a freshman from Arbor View.
Gillip and Thomas both shot 1-under 143s in the Sunrise and Sunset tournaments last week. Thomas had a second-round 68. Another potential challenger for the title is Douglas' Thomas Wicker, who was second to Singer last week.
Singer has some knowledge of Red Hawk. He played it two years in the zone tournament, and he's played several times during junior summer tournaments.
"I think I've played there six or seven times," Singer said. "My sophomore season I shot 81 and 82, which was good for me back then. I feel I have a good shot. It's been a great season. I've worked on what I need to get to the next level.
"Last year was disappointing, missing out by one stroke and not being able to go to Las Vegas. I wanted to come back this year."
Position golf is critical off the tee, and Singer has driven the ball really well all season. Failure to keep the ball in play off the tee could mean some big numbers, which Singer has been able to avoid in nearly all his tournaments during the league season.
"There are a lot of different lay-up shots," Singer said. "There is a lot of out of bounds, hazards and bunkers out there.
"The driver is one of my best clubs. I'm usually 285 to 290 off the tee. I can get it out to 300 once in a while. I'm usually down the middle pretty much."
Singer's length is amazing, considering he's not one of the biggest guys around.
"He's not a big kid," Carson coach Terry Gingell said. "He develops good clubhead speed and hits the ball a good distance.
"I think the course sets up good for Jonathan. He's played there before, and that's always a help."
Singer likes where is game is right now. He played Eagle Valley West obn Sunday and shot 75 and said he "played badly".
The left-handed swinging Singer said his biggest improvement has been with his iron play.
"Last year I hit six or seven greens, and I had to get up and down a lot (for par)," Singer said. "This year, I'm hitting 10 or 12 greens a round. In the pros they hit 10 or 12 so I'm right there."
Gingell said what stands out about Singer is his consistency.
"He's become a good chipper and putter," Gingell said. "He's become more consistent. I look for him to put up some good numbers (in the next two days)."