Trojans golfers spent most of the week battling top golfers in the region. They played in a league match on Monday and then on Tuesday and Wednesday were at the two-day Southern Nevada Invitational in a non-league match at Dragon Ridge Golf Course in Henderson, one of the toughest courses in the state.
At the league match at Canyon Gate in Las Vegas on Monday (par 72), a tough Faith Lutheran team edged out Pahrump Valley. Faith Lutheran carded a 385. Pahrump was second (419), Sierra Vista finished third (453) and Clark was fourth (498).
Charlie Magruder for Faith Lutheran carded a 71 for the win.
Pahrump’s top golfer, last year’s Division I-A individual champion, Austen Ancell, shot a 75 for second.
It’s tough to beat a team where they have four golfers carding in the seventies. The Crusaders had three other golfers in the seventies, J.R. Tuls (77), Greg Price (78) and Mitch Conley (79). Their fifth golfer, Trenton May, was not that far off and shot an 80.
The Trojans’ next top golfers were Drake Asuncion (82), Derek Moore (83), Kelby Lindberg (89) and Michael Hildebrand (90).
The boys then traveled to the Southern Nevada Invitational at Dragon Ridge in Henderson (par 72). Jack Trent shot a 6-under-par 66 to win the individual title, which helped Palo Verde capture the team championship at the Southern Nevada Invitational. Pahrump’s Ancell carded a 1-under par 143, tied for fifth place with Shadow Ridge golfer Tanner Johnson. Ancell shot 5 birdies to lead the Trojans.
The top team, Palo Verde, carded a 565, Coronado was second (577) and Bishop Gorman was third (592). Pahrump finished eighth (655) out of all Division I schools with the exception of Boulder City in tenth place (700).
As a team, Trojans coach Bob Hopkins said his team did well. He especially liked his team’s performance at the invitational.
“Ancell did well with a 73 the first day and a 70 the second day,” Hopkins said. “Then Derek Moore had a great second day, shooting a 76. Hastings (Canen) also did well, shooting an 82. All five scores from the second round were the lowest rounds of the year.”
He said the team brought their scores down immensely on the second day, from 344 to 321.
When asked if his scores have been coming down, Hopkins replied, “It is starting to improve.”
He said it is hard work on the short game that has brought them this far.
“The kids do a lot of putting drills,” the coach said. “I really don’t have to hound them about it for I have players coming to me telling me that they need to get their short game down. And I got it to the point they coach each other on their short game.”
He tells his kids that 60 percent of the shots come from 100 yards and closer and the team has bought into it.
Hopkins also feels that golf is all about confidence.
The next Trojans outing is on Monday at a league match at Western at 1 p.m.
Contact sports editor Vern Hee at vhee@pvtimes.com