Prep: Gators bounce back with golf crown

Matt O'Brien

Friday, May 22, 1998 | 10:54 a.m.

It was a trying year for the Green Valley golf team. After losing the 1997 Class 4A state championship on a tiebreaker (sixth golfer) with Reno High, the Gators had 12 long months to ponder what could've been.

Thursday afternoon at Stallion Mountain Country Club, Green Valley exorcised these demons by fighting off a late charge from Southern Zone champion Durango and firing a team total 369, giving the Gators a two-day score of 750 and their third state title in the past five years.

Durango posted the lowest team total of the day (364), but its two-day score of 759 left it nine strokes shy of Green Valley. Bishop Gorman shot a 781 and finished a distant third. Defending champ Reno placed fourth with 789.

"We tried to approach today's round as if we were tied," explained Green Valley coach Del Sagers, referring to the 14-shot cushion his team had entering the final round. "We knew today was a new day and we had to put yesterday behind us."

Spurred by solid play from Randy Creighton, Joe Gentile and Southern Zone champ Chad Fosburg, Durango quickly cut into Green Valley's lead. But the Gators hung tough, as Avi Khitri and zone runner-up Dallas Massey both played the back nine under par to help thwart the comeback attempt.

"I heard that Durango was making a run, but I didn't let it affect the way I was going to play," said Khitri, who birdied 16 and 17 to shoot a two-under 34 on the back side. "I just tried to concentrate on what I was doing and let whatever happens happen."

Khitri's two-day total of 145 (76-69) paced the Gators and was good enough for third place. Massey, who won a four-way playoff for fourth, and Joey Matyas posted totals of 149. Green Valley's fifth player, senior Jared Munk, fired a pivotal 150.

While schools from the Southern Zone dominated the team event, Galena sophomore Travis Whisman walked away with the individual title by defeating Tyler Mays of Gorman in a playoff.

After Mays' long par putt on the first hole of sudden death (the par-4 No. 1) sailed past the cup, Whisman two-putted from the middle of the green to capture the title.

"I was just trying to get my first putt close," said Whisman, who guided a slick 30-footer to within two feet of the cup. "I really lagged it. I knew Tyler was in some trouble, so I just wanted to make sure I got my par."

"I hit my drive right where I wanted to," said Mays, who fired the low round of the day, a 4-under 68, to force the playoff. "Unfortunately, it kicked right and found the bunker."

Mays, a UNLV signee, needed three shots to reach the green, then two-putted. He was also runner-up in last year's tournament.