WINNEMUCCA - If there were any thoughts of opposing teamstaking down the Lowry High School boys golf team in the opening week of play, those plans were quickly stopped.
The Buckaroos, winners of two of the last three Division I-A state championships, including last year, took to the course for the first time in league play last week.
It was a different looking squad as three players from the state championship team were not in the lineup. However, the depth of the Buckaroos paid off in two victories.
"It was a very solid start, in my opinion," said LHS head coach Andrew Meyer. "I went into the tournaments a little curious on how the results would be. We were without half of our team from a year ago. It showed how good of a program we have."
The Division I-A North opened its season on the tough Arnold Palmer-designed Dayton Valley Country Club on Thursday, March 21. With ideal conditions to play in, Lowry shot a team score of 413 to claim the team title. Elko was second at 426 and Spring Creek was a distant third with a 459. South Tahoe (469) and Churchill County (492) were fourth and fifth, respectively.
"We didn't win by a bunch, but that is still a good score for that course," Meyer said. "It will probably be the toughest course we see all year. We caught a break with the weather and there was no wind. The kids stepped up in a big way."
The Buckaroos' Andy Mendoza claimed low medalist honors with a round of 5-over par 77. Elko's Caden Bammesber was second, also with a 77. The Buckaroos' Ethan Gray place third overall with a round of 78.
"A big congrats to Andy - he came out of nowhere to win that tournament," Meyer said. "His scores in qualifying have been getting better and better and it was good to see him put it together in a tournament."
Chris Mendoza was fifth overall with his round of 83, and Chris Dendary and Joseba Criswell shot 83 and 87, respectively, for the final kept scores. Hunter Dimock, playing in his first high school tournament, carded a 99.
"For what we brought to the table, I thought we did outstanding," added the coach. "I was proud of the way Hunter played. He stepped up on a tough course in his first tournament."
The league was right back in action on Friday, March 22, in Fernley. Despite the new site, not much changed with the Buckaroos domination of the field with a round of 388. Lowry had five players shoot in the 70s.
"I hate to say I was surprised, but it caught me off guard a little bit," Meyer said. "I know the guys are capable of doing what they did. That just shows what this team can do when they put it all together."
Chris Mendoza made it back-to-back low medalist honors for the Buckaroos as he shot a 3-over par 75. Gray was one of three golfers to shoot 76 on the day. Elko's Jon Hull and Spring Creek's Cooper Cordova also shot a 76.
Andy Mendoza, Dendary and Criswell each shot 79 and Dimock finished with an 85.
"Joseba really stepped up and Hunter had another good day," Meyer said. "It's not too bad of a day when you have five scores in the 70s and another in the mid 80s."
The Division I-A North does not have a regional tournament to decide its state tournament teams. Those spots are determined by the final regular season point standings.
Currently, Lowry leads with 18 points and Elko and Spring Creek are second and third with 16 and 14, respectively. The top three teams advance to the state tournament.
Lowry traveled to Fallon on Thursday and results were not available at press time. After a two week break, the Buckaroos return to the course in Elko on Wednesday, April 17, at 10 a.m. The league will play back-to-back-tournaments once again, with a meet in Winnemucca on Thursday, April 18, at 9 a.m.
"It looks like another nice start to a good year," Meyer said. "I want to start now to keep them from not getting too confident. The other schools are going to get better and the schools in the south are strong as well. We are going to get a run for our money from everybody each and every week. We have to stay focused and keep trying to keep the scores under 400."
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