Green Valley opens big lead at 4A girls’ state golf tournament

Adam Candee

Wednesday, Oct. 23, 2002 | 9:09 a.m.

Just one last trip around the course separates the Green Valley girls golf team from one of its finest seasons.

The Gators hold a commanding lead after Tuesday's first day of the 4A state championships, a 36-hole event at Thunder Canyon Country Club outside Reno. In addition, Green Valley junior Chelsea Pendleton entered today's play in second place, three strokes off the lead.

Pendleton fired a 4-over round of 76 to trail Galena's Luxchmi Gill, who paced the field with a 1-over 73. Palo Verde's Katy Barrett (77) and Durango's Sondia Gogue (78) are the only golfers within striking distance of the lead after the opening round.

Green Valley's team score of 434 bested second-place Galena by 33 strokes and Bishop Gorman started the day in third, 49 strokes behind the Gators.

Green Valley already broke the national record for consecutive dual match victories at 129 earlier this season en route to a perfect finish in division play. The Gators won the Sunrise Region tournament as well.

Pendleton shot 36 on the front nine to lead at the turn, but Gill's 35 on the back nine vaulted her into the top spot. Nicole McGirr shot an 84 and Monica Brown carded an 87 to lead Green Valley to the first-day team advantage.

Silverado (514) came in fourth on the first day, while Palo Verde (533), defending state champion Durango (556) and Foothill (637) ended the opening round in seventh, eighth, and ninth places, respectively.

Rounding out the top 10 were Wooster's Kassia Nelson (82), McGirr, Silverado's Stephanie Bird (86), Brown, Cimarron's Mod Miranda (87) and Bishop Gorman's Shannon Wong (87).

The final round is scheduled for today.