Gators cruise to title

Adam Candee

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2002 | 8:56 a.m.

The perfect season for the Green Valley girls golf team found a perfect end Wednesday, as the Gators claimed the 4A state championship at Thunder Canyon Country Club outside Reno.

Having already become a national record holder earlier in the season, Green Valley bested second-place finisher Galena by a whopping 70-stroke margin in the 36-hole event to lay claim to its first state title since winning four straight from 1996-99.

"It's just one of those years that you wish every kid could experience," Green Valley coach Nick Garritano said.

Galena's Luxchmi Gill captured the individual title by an equally healthy margin of 10 strokes, carding a two-day score of 6-over 150 (73-77). Green Valley's Chelsea Pendleton (76-84) tied for second place with Durango standout Sondia Gogue (78-82), with Palo Verde's Katy Barrett (77-89) finishing fourth and the Gators' Nicole McGirr (84-83) rounding out the top five.

Bishop Gorman (952) placed third, with Palo Verde (989) earning fourth place. Silverado (1,021) took fifth while Durango (1,156) and Foothill (1,222) rounded out the pack at eighth and ninth.

Green Valley's top five of Pendleton, McGirr, Monica Brown, Tahnee Harrison and Lindsay Beckstead showed off the Gators' depth, with none of the quintet shooting above 93. And after breaking the national record for consecutive dual match victories at 129 earlier this season -- and not losing once on the year -- Green Valley completed a sterling year for the record book.

"This is something these kids will never forget," Garritano said.

The Gators held a commanding edge of 33 strokes heading into Wednesday's play at the 5,615-yard, par-72 Thunder Canyon course, and Green Valley never looked back.

"We put up a very good number (Tuesday) on a very tough course," Garritano said. "I think, basically, getting that big lead won it for us."

Cimarron-Memorial's Mod Miranda (87-81) took sixth place while the Gaels' Justina Yu (91-84) and Clare Schneider (93-82) shared 10th-place honors.