The Pahrump Valley girls golf team faced their toughest competition to date at the Class 3A Southern Nevada Regional Championships, which started on Monday and ended Tuesday.
On Monday, according to head golf coach Bob Hopkins, the team was in third place and shot a 382. Boulder City was in first with a 357 and Tech was in second with a 371.
As of Monday, Pahrump’s top two golfers were freshman Breanne Nygaard, who was in second with an 8-over-par 80 and junior Makalea Petrie, who was in fifth place with a 93.
Other top Pahrump golfers were senior Desirae Hembree, who shot a 100 and junior Jessica Pearson, who shot a 109.
Hopkins wasn’t happy with his team’s putting.
“Our top golfer, Breanne Nygaard, was doing really well until the last two holes of the day, when she three-putted those holes,” he said. “We just haven’t been playing well and I have been trying to convince the girls that the game is all about pitching and putting. They are all not putting very well.”
He said the course at the Las Vegas Golf Club wasn’t one of the hardest in the area.
“Maybe it was the wind yesterday,” Hopkins said. “On this course, the girls can’t really get in trouble unless they hook the ball.”
He was hoping for a better day on Tuesday.
Tournaments leading up to the regional
Pahrump Valley won easily against Cheyenne at the Aliante golf course in a Sunset League match on Oct. 4, with a 393 score. Mojave came in second (482), and Desert Pines (502) came in third.
Carolyn Lemon of Western won medalist honors, edging out Pahrump’s Breanne Nygaard by one stroke with a 12-over-par 84.
Pahrump junior Makalea Petrie was third, (97), and junior Jessica Pearson was fourth, (99).
It was a landmark day for Pearson because she shot under 100 for the first time. Hopkins hopes she can repeat this at regionals and state.
The Pahrump Valley Girls Golf team finished undefeated in Sunset League matches and hopes that translates into a good finish for the year.
The state tournament will be at Mountain Falls Golf Course at 10 a.m. on Oct. 18-19.
Contact sports editor Vern Hee at vhee@pvtimes.com