Tiger duo qualifies for state golf; Carson golfers shut out

Douglas High's Thomas Wicker and Greg Coleman will represent the area next week at the NIAA 4A State golf championships at the TPC in Las Vegas.

Wicker shot a 3-over-par 75 on Tuesday at Empire Ranch to finish with a 36-hole total of 152. Coleman, who skied to an 81 in inclement conditions on Monday, fired an even-par 72 Tuesday to finish at 153.

Bishop Manogue won with a 788, while Reno got the second qualifying spot at 799. Douglas was seventh at 836.

Carson High's trio of Garrett Gingell, Niko Brewer and Colin McCulloch was shut out. McCulloch finished in 10th place (157), three strokes out of qualifying. Gingell, who shot a career-best 2-over-par 74 was 28th at 165 and Brewer shot his second straight 88 to finish 45th at 176.

Wicker, who is headed to the University of Arizona on a National Merit scholarship, was even par until he bogeyed the last three holes. He birdied the second and ninth holes.

"I'm happy overall," Wicker said. "I get to go to state so that's not too bad."

On No. 16 (White No. 7), Wicker hit his second shot into the lake. On No. 17 (White No. 8), he chunked his tee shot and didn't recover, and on No. 18 (White No. 9), he failed to get up and down after missing the green.

McCulloch had a long day. He had to finish two holes that he was unable to finish on Monday because of snow. He finished with a 77 and 80.

"It (the 80) wasn't too bad," McCulloch said. "I'm happy with it. I know I could have done better if I hit a couple of shots better. Everything was good except for my putting."

McCulloch said he three-putted three times. He managed just one birdie, that coming on Blue No. 1, his first hole of the day.

The Carson golfer took a double-bogey and a triple bogey during his round.

Gingell joked that going to school would have been more productive than the round of golf he played on Monday when he shot 91. Obviously he was in much better spirits after his Tuesday round, which included three birdies in his last five holes.

"He's not going to state, but he redeemed himself," Carson coach Terry Gingell said of his son's efforts.

Calmer weather helped and a better mindset certainly were keys to Gingell's improved play.

"Yesterday (Monday) the weather was outrageous," the younger Gingell said. "I let it get to me; let it into my head."

Gingell said that he was able to put bad holes or shots behind him on Tuesday, something he was unable to do on Monday. He was a lot stronger mentally on Tuesday.

Gingell got off to a good start with a tap-in birdie on No.1 Blue, a 478-yard par-5 after hitting a good driver and fairway wood. On No. 9 (blue), he hit a 3-wood into the bunker, blasted out to 5 feet and drained the putt. It was his only birdie on a par-5 in two days.

On the 355-yard par-4 5th (white course) he hit a pitching wedge to 10 feet and made the putt. He missed the green with his second shot at No. 6, but chipped on to 5 feet and made the putt. On the par-3 8th, his tee shot found a greenside bunker. He blasted out and the ball rolled in for a "sandy birdie."

Brewer, by his own admission, didn't play well. He had one birdie, but also took a triple-bogey 8.