Christine Fernandez edges her big sister in golf playoff

Spencer Patterson

Friday, Oct. 22, 1999 | 10:47 a.m.

With Green Valley's fourth consecutive 4A girls golf title in the bag, day two of this year's state tournament turned into a Fernandez family affair Thursday at Canyon Gate Country Club.

Sisters Christine and Mary Fernandez finished the 36-hole event tied for the individual lead with scores of 153, forcing the siblings to decide the state championship in a sudden-death playoff.

And on the first extra hole, sophomore Christine followed a long, straight drive off the tee with a 3-foot birdie putt to best senior Mary and capture an emotion-packed victory.

"I was nervous once I found out me and my sister were in a playoff," said Christine Fernandez, who also captured last week's Southern Zone individual title. "My hands were shaking. I couldn't even putt."

The Fernandez playoff added some late drama to a tournament dominated from start to finish by the heavily favored Gators. After taking a 42-stroke lead into day two, the Henderson school rolled to the team title, defeating second-place Bishop Gorman by a whopping 72 shots.

"We jumped out the first day with a big lead, and when you do that your kids can relax a little bit," Green Valley coach Ron Moracco said. "Winning four straight state titles is a real accomplishment."

The Gators wound up with the event's top three finishers. Senior Kimberly Kindig bested Galena's Chandeni Gill in a one-hole playoff to take third place, one stroke behind the Fernandez sisters.

Seniors Emily De'Ath and Monica Dionne also contributed to Green Valley's strong effort with scores of 158 and 173, respectively.

Durango placed third in team competition, followed by northern champion Galena, Reno and Palo Verde.

Bonanza senior Jordan Auten earned the tournament's fifth-place medal, defeating Gorman's Danielle Reilly in the day's third one-hole playoff.

* GATORS, GAELS ROLL: The girls teams from Bishop Gorman and Green Valley had an easy time on day one of the 4A State Tennis Tournament on Thursday, as both breezed into today's championship round.

The defending champion Gaels posted a 20.5-2 win over northern zone champion Reno, with Gorman winning all nine doubles matches and seven of nine singles matches.

The Gators, meanwhile, downed McQueen 17.5-5 behind the stellar play of doubles teammates Dallas Harris and Linsay Sobers, who lost just one game in three victories.

In boys action, four-time defending state champion Green Valley held off Galena 15.5-7 despite a trio of singles wins from Grizzlies No. 1 Andy Sweatt. Mike Schuldt and Joel Kielbowicz teamed up for three doubles victories for the Gators.

In the day's closest contest, Reno's boys team slipped past Bonanza 12-10.5 to set up a rematch of last year's state title match. The Bengals got three singles wins from Sean Hubbard, but the Huskies took six of nine doubles matches to come out on top.

Action continues today and Saturday at UNLV's Fertitta Tennis Complex.