Palo Verde boys earn state golf berth

Leah Robinson

Thursday, May 10, 2001 | 11:03 a.m.

Palo Verde's boys golf team will taste state competition for the first time, while Bonanza's Dana Wade will return to seek the individual state title after both finished with top honors at Wednesday's 4A Sunset Regional Tournament.

The Panthers combined for a 15-over-par 376, edging Bonanza (387) and Bishop Gorman (388) at SilverStone Golf Club in record-setting heat and windy conditions, adding levels of challenge for the field.

Palo Verde finished with five players in the 70s: David Parrish (73), Jeremy Keller (74), Brandon Ford (75), Brandon Loska (77) and Russ Ricciardelli (77).

"All of these players are very solid. Our one through six guys are as good as anybody," Panthers coach Jeff Wolfram said. "We played solid all year and I think that confidence has built up to this point."

The Panthers, Bengals and Gaels will join Sunrise representatives Green Valley (367), Foothill (395) and Silverado (396) at next week's two-day, 36-hole 4A State Tournament in Dayton.

Defending state champion Durango will not be moving on after winding up fourth in the region. However, two Durango players -- Chris Loughney (73) and Mitch Carlson (75) -- will compete individually.

Wade took home Wednesday's individual title, shooting an even-par 72. The Bengals' senior birdied the 18th hole to best Loughney and Parrish by a stroke.

"I had no idea what the standings were when I hit that shot," Wade said. "I just had a good line on the putt."

Wade, who lost the 2000 state title in a playoff, started the day at 2-under but faltered at holes six and seven with bogeys on each. His two other bogeys on 12 and 15 were cancelled by birdies on 13 and 18.

"I was getting a little quick today," Wade said. "I'll need to be more focused for state. I'd love to move up a notch. I'm just glad the pressure to make it to state is off now."

Bonanza coach Dan Wieser said he fully expected Wade to finish strong at regionals.

"He always scores well," Wieser said. "He never has a real bad round. He's solid. He never lets anything affect him when he's out there and he's such a good kid, too. I have a good feeling about his chances (at state)."

Individual spots for second and third, as well as fourth and fifth, were decided in two playoffs. Loughney beat Parrish for second in a three-hole playoff, while Bishop Gorman's Robert Massi bested Keller for fourth with a 30-foot birdie on the first playoff hole.

Also qualifying individually were Cimarron-Memorial's Keenan Voit and Matt Lisiewski and Centennial's Chris Anderson and John Mosier.