The Battle Mountain High School boys golf team was looking to advance to the NIAA 2A State Championships, as it took to the course this past Friday in Jackpot.
The Longhorns needed to place in the top three to accomplish the feat, but came up just short in fourth with a total of 497. Incline won the regional title with a 469, while North Tahoe (481) and Whittell (489) were second and third, respectively. Wells (516) and Sierra Lutheran (540) rounded out the team scores.
“We played our best golf of the year team wise, posting our best team total of the year,” said BMHS coach Roger Wallock. “We actually had a chance down the stretch to take the third spot and go to state as a team but Whittell’s fifth golfer came in with his season best score and we lost by eight shots. I am extremely proud of this team and their improvement as the season progressed. The guys should have no regrets about how hard they worked to give them a legitimate shot at a state berth.”
Yerington’s Griffin Cooper was the low medalist with a 3-under par round of 69. Incline’s Satchel Hirch (74) was second and North Tahoe’s Murphy Scott (79) and Quinn Early (87), were third and fourth, respectively. The Wells brother duo of Hunter Escamilla (87) and Luke Escamilla (89), placed fifth and sixth.
Battle Mountain’s Austin Wallock was one of the five individuals that qualified for the state championships, shooting a 92. Brody Young (6) and Noah Villanueva (97) missed out on qualifying for state by two and three strokes, respectively.
Jimmy Harris was the fourth Battle Mountain golfer to break 100 at 98 and Alex Lopez and Zach Heese each finished with rounds of 114.
“It was nice to see Austin play his best match of the year and get back to the state tourney for the second straight year,” Wallock said. But it was tough to see Brody, Jimmy, and Noah come up just short individually.”
The NIAA 2A State Championships took place Monday and Tuesday at Eagle Valley West Golf Course in Carson City. Results were not available at press time.
