WINNEMUCCA - With the top spot in the Division I-A North at stake, the Lowry High School girls golf team turned in one of its best performances of the season, on one of the toughest courses in the state.
The Lady Bucks traveled to Dayton last week to play on the Arnold Palmer designed Dayton Valley Country Club. The course has held PGA Tour qualifying in the past.
"The course was in perfect shape," said LHS head coach Andrew Meyer. "The greens were the quickest we have seen all year. It was good to see the girls play a course like that. The girls handled themselves well and I was proud of them."
Lowry won the tournament by 12 shots, defeating the Elko Indians 390-402. Following three straight weeks of fourth-place finishes, Fernley claimed the third spot with a 438. Spring Creek placed fourth at 452 and Churchill County (483) and Dayton (524) rounded out the other team scores.
"A 390 at Dayton is a pretty good score," Meyer said. "This will probably be the toughest course we play all year. There are a lot of hazards and you have to play smart. We shot 391 at Spring Creek earlier in the year and that is an easier course than Dayton is."
Fernley freshman Brittany Evans was the low medalist with an 8-over par 80. Lowry had three players finish in the top six, including Cortney Kieser, who was second at 85. Elko's Kaily Beatty was third with an 86.
"For Cortney to shoot what she did on that course is great," added the coach. "You have to give credit to Brittany for what she shot. It has been a battle between Cortney, Brittany and Kaily all year. It will be fun to watch them the rest of the season."
The Lady Bucks' Alyssa Dendary was fourth overall at 86 and teammate Ning Landt was sixth with a 100. Dendary shot the 92, despite seven penalty strokes for hitting into hazards.
"That is a good round for seven penalty strokes," Meyer said. "The girls are hard on themselves at times and I am trying to steer them away from doing that. I just want them to go out and have fun. The main goal right now is to make them a better golfer when they leave the course every day."
Tori Echeverria shot a 113 to finish 13th overall and had the last score count toward the team total. Macy Alvarez and Caitlin Orr shot 130 and 135 for the Lady Bucks.
"The team atmosphere was good and the girls are having fun," said the coach. "Tori had a good round and is healthy after rolling her ankle in Spring Creek. She bounced back after a couple of tough weeks."
With the victory, Lowry holds a two-point lead over Elko (31-29) in the season-long league standings. The top three teams advance to the NIAA State Championships at Wildcreek Golf Course in Sparks on Monday, Oct. 15, and Tuesday, Oct. 16. Spring Creek is third with 23 points and Fernley is fourth at 21.
"It was a big win for us and sets us apart from Elko," Meyer said. "It shows that we can definitely beat them. We are the better team and the team to beat. We have to still keep working and take nothing for granted. Elko is a good team and can't take it lightly and think it is in the bag. The main goal is to win the north. The girls are enjoying the rivalry with Elko and do not want to lose to them. I respect Elko and I want to make sure they do but they like beating them."
Lowry travels to Fernley Thursday for a 10 a.m. start
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