Tough conditions greeted the players that participated in the Division III State Golf Championships on May 11-12 at the Incline Village Championship Course in Incline.
Added in with less than ideal playing conditions, scores were generally higher than normal over the two days.
A year after finishing second, the Battle Mountain High School boys golf team finished fourth with a two-day total of 953. The Longhorns were fifth after the first 18 holes.
Playing on its home course, Incline jumped out to an early lead on day one and never looked back. The Highlanders shot an 883 to win the championship. White Pine was second at 904 and Needles was third with a 913. Lake Mead (960) and Whittell (995) rounded out the scores.
“We really struggled on a course we didn’t know,” said BMHS coach Roger Wallock. “It is an extremely challenging course that requires accuracy and restraint. We very rarely have to worry about an errant tee shot on the course we play and so when each hole at Incline offered its own set of challenges, we often paid the price. It was a very unforgiving golf course that, as a team, we could never really figure out.”
Incline’s Mitchell Cornell won the individual title with two solid rounds of 73 and 71 for a 144. White Pine’s Chris Young, the defending state champion, was second with a 152. Incline’s Bryan Golombik was third at 155 and Yerington’s Griffin Cooper (161) was fourth. Incline’s Dylan Smith and White Pine’s Collin Young tied for fifth at 162.
Senior Braeden Crotteau had the best finish for the Longhorns, placing 14th with a 182. He shot 90 on the first day and followed that up with 92 in his final 18 holes.
Fellow seniors, Sean Peasnall and Toliver Rogers placed 22nd and 23rd, respectively, with scores of 193 and 194. Peasnall opened the tournament with a 93 and finished with a 100. Rogers carded a 95 on the first 18 holes and closed out the season with a 99.
Parker Rochester, the fourth senior on the squad, tied for 26th at 196. Rochester shot rounds of 91 and 105.
Alan Rangel (197) and Kort Beaver (200) rounded out the scores for Battle Mountain
“However, I told the players afterward (they were extremely disappointed) to not let two bad days overshadow four great years of golf,” Wallock said. “We have accomplished more than any other boys’ golf team in school history and nobody can take that away from us. I am very proud of Braedan, Toliver, Sean, and Parker for all their hard work and dedication. BMHS golf will sorely miss them.”
