Trojans fall to Gorman; Tough contest hardens team

The Lady Trojans golf team was at home against Bishop Gorman in their first contest at Mountain Falls Golf Course.

Gorman's team carded a 340 to Pahrump's 478 on the par 72 course, which was no surprise to Trojans coach Bob Hopkins.

The top four golfers in the match for Pahrump were Makalea Petrie (112), Natalie Mercer (113), Courtney Berry (124) and Krista Toomer (129).

The top four golfers for Bishop Gorman were Rose Baral (79), Jennifer Le 80, Sabrina Schnur 85 and Brianna Dougherty 96.

Hopkins' knew that Bishop Gorman has some of the top female golfers in the state and so he invited them to help improve his own golfers. Bishop Gorman also had an added incentive to come out because the Southern Nevada Regionals will be held at the Falls this year and the state tourney will be at Boulder Creek.

"I had my top four golfers pair up with the middle of their lineup," Hopkins said. "I didn't want my girls to get beaten that badly. We are out-classed but I tell the girls it's fun to play better people because it makes you better golfers. I just basically want my girls to keep it in the fairway. Golf isn't about how good your good shots are but how bad your bad shots are."

Hopkins has six girls out this year for golf. The following girls are on the team: Shelby Brown, senior; Courtney Berry, senior; Natalie Mercer, senior; Krista Toomer, junior; Kaitlyn Dewese, junior; and Makalea Petrie, freshman.

Hopkins said Mercer will be number 1, Petrie number 2, Toomer number 3, Courtney Berry number 4, Brown will be the fifth and will be the fifth golfer and Dewese the sixth.

"Our goal is to have our top four to average 100," Hopkins said. "Our goal is to get our team to state."

The team had two girls who went to state last year and both of those girls are no longer on the team.

He said Mercer and Petrie if they work hard should make it to state.

Mercer has a strong drive but still needs to work some kinks out of her short game and approach to the hole.

"My main goal this year is to do better than last year," Mercer said. "I missed a tournament and couldn't make up the points. I think my drives are good, it's just getting on to the green. Once I am on the green I think I am pretty decent."

Petrie will not hit the ball long, but she hits the ball straight and has one of the best iron shots on the team and good putting skills. She is a mature golfer for her age.

""I worked during the summer on my driving," Petrie said. She was seen working hard during the summer playing in junior golf tournaments.

Toomer also has a good long ball but needs to slow down on her approach. She is one of the better putters on the team.

"As a softball player the tendency is to want to hit the ball hard, but I have to remember that this ball is not moving," Toomer said. "I will be working on my chipping this year."

Courtney Berry can hit the ball too but also needs to work on her chipping close to the pin.

"My goal is to make it to state," Berry said. "I want to work on my bunker shots this year and my chipping, I think my putting is good."