For the first time in three years the NIAA 3A State Girls Golf Championship was up for grabs for a handful of schools.
Faith Lutheran, who dominated the league for that stretch of time moved up to the 4A this school year.
That left Elko, Boulder City and Lowry to fight to become the new state champion. Elko had an added advantage of hosting the tournament at Ruby View Golf Course on Monday and Tuesday and parlayed that into winning the state title.
The Indians held a 15-stroke lead over Lowry after the first 18 holes and held on to the lead on Tuesday to win with a two-day total of 752. Boulder City jumped past Lowry on the second day to shoot a 378 and finish at 770. The Lady Bucks shot equal scores of 386 for a 772 total.
Spring Creek placed fourth at 855, SECTA (872) was fifth and Pahrump Valley (906) rounded out the team scores.
Boulder City’s Lani Potter won the individual title, with a two-day total of 147. Potter shot a 1-under par 71 on the first day. She finished second last year.
Elko’s Annika Criss, was second at 167 and Western’s Carolyn Lemon was third at 173. Lowry sophomore Tatyana Carlson had rounds of 95-86-181 to finish fourth and was the highest Northern 3A finisher. Moapa Valley’s Josie Delgadillo rounded out the top five at 186.
Senior Brooklyn Backus improved 11 spots from last year to tie for eighth-place. Backus shot 96 on day one and 100 on the final 18 holes. Fellow senior Elise Rose shot 96-103-209 to place 12th. Rose missed the first half of the season after becoming ill at the opening tournament in Elko. She eventually had her gallbladder removed.
Senior Kaity Sample rebounded from a rough start on the first day to shoot a 97 on the final 18 holes for a total of 207 and a 17th-place finish. Savannah Cox, also a senior finished 22nd with a 219.
Sophomore Hannah Havens shot 99 on the first day, but dropped back to a tie for 24th with a total of 224.
Of the seven girls on the roster this year, five of the Lady Bucks are seniors. Carlson and Havens were the only underclassmen on the squad.
