Andrews captures individual title as Durango snares state berth

Spencer Patterson

Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2000 | 11:12 a.m.

Erin Andrews wasn't even thinking about an individual medal on Monday. She simply wanted to help Durango capture the 4A Sunset Region team title, and earn a trip to this week's state tournament.

As it turned out, by the time the junior stepped onto the ninth and final hole at Dragonridge Country Club, the team championship was already in the bag.

When Andrews two-putted the ninth to finish with a one-under 35, so too was her first Sunset individual title. She wound up one stroke ahead of teammate Sondia Gogue, and four ahead of the rest of the field.

"I've always thought of it as a team effort, never individual," Andrews said. "But it's a great feeling that I did it for myself as well as my team."

Andrews ended the day with birdies on both par 5s, six pars and a lone bogey on the second hole. Her round helped the Trailblazers to a team score of 191, 21 strokes ahead of second-place Bishop Gorman.

"(Andrews) did a great job," Durango coach Kathy Faber said. "She takes pressure well. She's very at ease. She just goes out there and enjoys playing."

The Trailblazers posted four scores in the 30s -- with Whitney Welch and Darci Sutton shooting identical 39s to join Andrews and Gogue. Sabrina Faber rounded out the victors' scoring with a 42.

"I'm really happy for the girls," Kathy Faber said. "They've worked hard, and they've played well. They've taken their lessons and played a lot of junior golf this summer, and it's paid off."

The Trailblazers will be among the favorites to capture this week's 4A State Tournament, scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday at Genoa Lakes Golf Club in Genoa, located near Carson City.

In addition to dominating the team competition, Durango also produced a rare 1-2-3 individual finish, with Welch emerging from a four-golfer playoff to claim third place.

Gorman's Danielle Reilly wound up fourth, with Bonanza's Kim Braaten rounding out the medalists in fifth place.

Braaten's Bengals squad narrowly missed out on a trip to state, with Palo Verde edging Bonanza 237 to 239 for third place.

Besides the top three teams, six individuals will participate in the state tournament: Braaten, Bonanza's Sara Nakae and Alexandria Kyminas, Cimarron-Memorial's Mariko Miranda and Victoria Morache and Centennial's Laura Kitchen.