Nevada Appeal Staff Report
SPARKS " After bogeying two of the first three holes, Jonathan Singer turned his game around and shot a 2-over-par 74 in the first round at the NIAA 4A State Golf Championships at Red Hawk Wednesday afternoon.
Singer trails first-round leader A.J. McInerney, who opened with a 3-under-par 69. Spanish Springs' Jordan Gilmore is second at 71 followed by Spanish Springs' Ren Wilson and Las Vegas' Raymond Gillip, each of whom shot even-par 72. Manogue's Jordan Anderson, Douglas' Thomas Wicker and Coronado's Tad Darland are at 1-over-par 73. Singer and Coronado's Ryan Rom are at 74.
"I felt like I played OK," said Singer, who had three birdies on the day. "I left some strokes out there. I was up and down. I did well with my irons and I made some good up and downs.
"Five strokes is a lot (to make up). I'm going to try to grind it out and get some birdies. The pin placements were hard; some were sidehill. I have to go low tomorrow (actually today)."
Singer has high expectations, and was being too hard on himself, according to CHS coach Terry Gingell.
"I was pleased," Gingell said. "It was a very solid performance. he had a couple of three-putt greens. Outside of the three-putts, he hit a lot of good shots."
Singer opened with a birdie, hitting a driver and a 60-degree wedge and then sinking a 15-footer. He bogeyed the next two holes, but got back to level par with a 9-foot birdie putt on No. 5. He parred out the rest of the way, including No. 9 when he drove the ball into the hazard, hit his second shot into the trap and then was able to get up and down.
On No. 10, Singer lost a shot to par when he he snap-hooked his drive off the tee, hit into the trap, blasted out and then three-putted.
After pars at Nos. 11 and 12, Singer endured another three-putt green on No. 13. He drained an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 16 and then parred the final two holes.
BASEBALL: Douglas ready for opener
LAS VEGAS " Douglas High School's baseball team, fresh off its first 4A regional title since 1989, opens play in the 4A state tournament today at 6 p.m. at Lied Field against Cimmaron-Memorial.
Cimarron-Memorial enters the game with a 31-5 record, having knocked off Bishop Gorman in the conference tournament 10-2. Douglas enters the game with a 30-7-1 record. The win over Gorman snapped the Gaels' 35-game win streak. Gorman is 37-4.
In the other first-round game, Green Valley, 25-10, faces Gorman, 37-4, at 3 p.m.
The winner of the Douglas-Cimarron game plays the Gorman-Green Valley winner at 3 p.m. Frriday. The two first-round losers play at 12 noon. There is a second elimination game scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday.
Douglas is expected to start Tyler May or Tyler Hoelzen. May leads the Tiger offense in almost every category this season with 11 doubles, three triples, 12 home runs and 39 RBIs. Tim Rudnick has 35 RBIs while Hoelzen has 32.
Bradley Oswald compiled a 6-0 record and an 0.84 ERA this year for Cimarron. Kris Kaplan hit .536 with 12 homers for Cimarron. Kody Gorden and Taylor Doyle, who are headed for WNC next fall, are also on the Cimarron pitching staff.