Fallon golf solid at IA state tourney

In the biggest tournament of the season, Sara Evans came to play.

The Fallon girls golfer carded a two-day 211 to finish 20th at the Division I-A state golf tournament in Elko on Tuesday.

Evans tallied an opening round 104 and followed with a 107 to lead the Lady Wave. Teammate Tabetha Park shot a 213 for 24th, while Vivane Ugalde tallied a 223 (31st) and Hannah Evans posted a 241 (36th) for Fallon.

“I think they were really close to their averages,” Fallon coach Phil Pinder said. “The real positive thing that I took away from the second they didn’t feel they shot what they were capable.”

Although the Lady Wave did not qualify as a team, they did qualify their four individuals. Hannah Evans made the cut after last week’s 99 at the Fallon Golf Course, which tied her with Ugalde for the final spot.

Course conditions in Elko were good on Monday, but the mercury dropped and winds picked up on Tuesday, Pinder said.

“The second day was tougher scoring,” he said. “The course was in beautiful shape and Elko ran a first class tournament. Everything was first class.”

The focus now, Pinder said, is whether three of his returners — Park graduates in June — will commit to playing in the offseason.

The longtime coach said his players conveyed their desire to improve and take the next step for 2015.

“I got the feeling they want to come back and do even better,” Pinder said.

One mystery for next season, though, is the health of Carissa Parsons, who was the Lady Wave’s best player last season. She missed this year due to an elbow injury.

Although Parsons’ is engaged with rehabilitation, Pinder said the prognosis is questionable and surgery may be an option, but it may also leave her future on the course in jeopardy.

“We’ll have to wait and see,” he added. “It will be a slow process and hopefully be a good a thing for next year.”

With Fallon’s success this season, Pinder said he hopes will translate to larger numbers next year. Including Parsons, Fallon only had five golfers, but even with the low numbers, the quality exceeded Pinder’s and assistant coach Sandy Vanderbeek’s expectations.

Ugalde, Park, Sara Evans and Hannah Evans put in the work and the result was the Lady Wave’s best season since Pinder and Vanderbeek took over 10 years ago.

“Hopefully some of them will look into summer and junior golf,” Pinder said. “I’m hoping with the success we’ve had, with getting kids to state, we get some more kids out. In our 10 years, this has been the best.”

Faith Lutheran’s Julia Becker won the individual medalist with a 143, while Fernley’s Brittany Evans was fourth with a 158.

Also for Fernley was Courtney Dunn in 22nd (212), Brooke Jeankins took 34th (240), Emma Young in 44th (278), Megan Thompson in 45th (284) and Hallie Jim in 46th (295).

Faith Lutheran captured the team title with a 697 followed by Clark (710), Elko (757), Lowry (777), SECTA (854) and Fernley (885).