Gators could face challenge this year

Spencer Patterson

Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2000 | 10:02 a.m.

The two-day, 36-hole 4A State Girls Golf Tournament gets under way today at Genoa Lakes Golf Club near Carson City, and for the first time in five years, Green Valley will not be the prohibitive favorite.

The Gators, four-time defending state champs and winners of 112 consecutive dual matches, are expected to be challenged by Sunset Region champion Durango and Sunset runner-up Bishop Gorman, as well as several teams from Northern Nevada.

"The competition in the state tournament is probably a level above us on paper," Green Valley coach Jim Nicksick said after his team's win in last week's Sunrise Region event. "Our goal at state is a top-five finish."

Nicksick's squad took the Sunrise title with a five-golfer, nine-hole score of 248. All three Sunset qualifiers -- Durango (191), Gorman (212) and Palo Verde (247) bested that score Monday, although the conditions were far more forgiving, with heavy winds accounting for high scores last week.

Durango coach Kathy Faber predicted a strong showing for her Trailblazers at state, though she admitted her golfers may need to get over some early nerves today.

"For most of these girls, this is their first time going up there for state, so it will be new to them," Faber said. "But this has been the best team of all the years we've had in the past."

As for the Gators, Faber acknowledged that toppling the defending champs -- who lost their top six golfers from last season -- is not a primary focus this week.

"The Green Valley girls were great girls and had all earned their place, but those kids have moved on," Faber said.

"I don't think we're too concerned about them. It should be Durango and Gorman again."

Representing Northern Nevada will be region champ Galena, along with Reno and Carson.

The three northern qualifiers were separated by just three strokes at last Friday's 18-hole tournament.

Several northern girls could figure into the battle for the individual state title, most notably Reno's Nicole Felesina and Wooster's Aislyn Nelson, the latter of whom captured the Northern Region trophy with a round of 78.

Durango's Erin Andrews, Sondia Gogue and Whitney Welch -- who finished 1-2-3 in the Sunset -- should compete for individual honors, along with Gorman's Danielle Reilly and Jordan Webb, Bonanza's Kim Braaten, Palo Verde's Katy Barrett and Jenna Casell, Silverado's Monika Lee and Green Valley's Chelsea Pendleton and Nicole McGirr, among others.