Green Valley defends its title

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Oct. 12, 1999 | 10:28 a.m.

Heavily favored Green Valley ran away with its fourth consecutive Southern Zone girls golf title on Monday, but that didn't mean the 18-hole tournament was without its share of drama.

Far from it, the event had plenty of excitement, as both team and individual berths to next week's 4A state tournament weren't decided until the closing moments.

The Gators staked their claim to the team championship early in the day, as top three golfers Kimberly Kindig, Mary Fernandez and Christine Fernandez all posted scores in the 30s on the front nine at the par-72 Black Mountain golf course.

Green Valley's stellar round continued on the back nine, particularly for Christine Fernandez. The sophomore bested her front-side 37 with a 36 on the back half, and her score of 73 was easily enough to give her this year's zone individual title.

"I was having fun out there," said Fernandez, who had a pair of birdies and three bogeys. "Our team just wanted to come out and play our best and do better than any other team."

Kindig and Mary Fernandez finished four strokes behind the winner with 77s, with Kindig winning the second-place medal in a two-hole playoff. Emily De'Ath, last year's 4A state champion, returned to competition after missing nearly three weeks with a cut on her finger with a solid round of 84, and Monica Dionne rounded out the Gators' scoring with a 90.

Green Valley's team total of 401 proved 38 shots better than second-place Bishop Gorman. The Gators will try for their fourth straight state championship next Wednesday and Thursday at Canyon Gate Country Club.

"We've got a heck of a tradition going," Green Valley coach Ron Moracco said. "Our goal was just to be in the top four to make it to state, but it's also nice to win zone again."

The Gaels nailed down the second berth to state behind the play of Danielle Reilly (78) and Christine Hentzner (79), who finished fourth and fifth overall, respectively.

"Green Valley stepped up to the challenge and played well," Gorman coach Kelsey McCall said. "We'll see what happens at state. If they aren't on their game and we're on ours, we can do it. That wasn't true last year. Even if they weren't on their game they were too tough."

Durango claimed the third slot, thanks largely to Whitney Welch's round of 80 and Erin Andrews' 81.

And then things got interesting.

After posting a team total of 520 early in the day, Palo Verde's players were left watching the leaderboard as the remaining scores rolled in. As it turned out, the fourth berth to state would be a three-team race between the Panthers, Cimarron-Memorial and Silverado.

Silverado's 524 knocked it out of the running, but Cimarron wound up with a 520, tying it with division rival Palo Verde for the final spot. The outcome was decided by the two teams' sixth golfer, with the Panthers' Janna McCoy (122) besting the Spartans' Courtney Slovak (125) to put fourth-year Palo Verde into the state tournament for the first time.

"It was sheer luck, but it's a real thrill for the girls," Palo Verde coach Peggy Lair said. "Our main goal was to make zone, but we thought we had a slim chance. Cimarron, Silverado and Palo Verde are all very comparable teams. Any one of us could have taken that fourth spot."

Five individuals on non-qualifying teams also earned berths to state: Bonanza's Jordan Auten (81) and Autumn Monteiro (83), Silverado's Monika Lee (90), Cimarron's Rachel Miranda (92) and Silverado's Kristi Maynes (93).