The Lowry High School boys golf team was looking to gain some momentum toward a bid to the state tournament and did just that on its home course on Wednesday, March 15.
The Buckaroos shot a season-best 440 to finish second. Spring Creek led the way for the second tournament ion a row at 428.
Churchill County was third with a 452 and Truckee (456) and South Tahoe (467) rounded out the top five. Elko (468) was sixth and Fernley (542) and Dayton (636) completed the team standings.
“I thought we played well, but thought the scores would be a little lower on our home course,” said LHS coach Andrew Meyer. “It shows what we are capable of doing. It was a good momentum builder for the kids and gets us a step closer to the state tournament. We are sitting pretty good, but we still have to get better.”
Spring Creek’s Daniel Mahlke was the low medalist with 6-over par 78. Teammate Mason Adams was second at 79 and Churchill County’s Kevin Cann (79) was third. Spring Creek’s Trevor Stannard (81) and Elko’s Cauy Mead (82) were fourth and fifth, respectively.
The Buckaroos posted four scores in the 80s with Zane Fifield leading the way with an 86. Dillon Patterson and Steven Bosch each carded rounds of 87 and Peyton Capellen shot 88.
“I will take having four scores in the 80s,” Meyer said. “Now, we need to work on cutting a couple strokes off each score.”
Freshman Kobe Stoker shot a 92 and Seth Duncan finished with a 96.
“That fifth score from Kobe was the difference today,” added the coach. “If we can get a solid fifth score every time out, we are going to be OK. I was proud of Seth as well. That was the first time he broke 100.”
The Buckaroos currently have four golfers in the top 14 in average in the Northern 3A. Fifield is eight with an 85.3 average, and Bosch and Patterson are 10th and 11th, while Capellen is 14th.
There is no postseason regional tournament in the Northern 3A and qualifying teams are based on the final regular season standings.
Spring Creek is atop the league with 23 points, while Churchill County is second at 21 and Lowry (19) is third. Truckee (15) and Elko (11) round out the top five.
The league is taking a couple weeks off and the next tournament is tentatively scheduled for Monday, April 3, in Fallon. It is also possible the tournament at Wildcreek Golf Course in Sparks may be canceled.
“We have a little break now where we can work on our game,” Meyer said. “I could not be happier where we are right now. The guys have come a long way.”
