Coronado takes title

Adam Candee

Tuesday, May 6, 2003 | 9:51 a.m.

Hand clasped behind his head, Brad Thompson anxiously paced around the clubhouse patio overlooking the finishing holes of Boulder Creek Golf Course Monday.

Thompson, a lanky Las Vegas High sophomore, finished in the first group of the Sunrise Region Golf Tournament, alongside two of his top competitors. Knowing that his 1-under score of 70 already placed him in the lead, Thompson would have an arduous wait to see if it would hold up.

"I had mixed feelings," Thompson said. "I thought it (would stand), but at the same time, I didn't think that it would. I had a long wait."

Two hours later, Thompson was crowned individual medalist by two strokes over Coronado's Matt Edwards. The Cougars, however, scored their biggest victory by upsetting favored Green Valley for the team crown by a single stroke with their 384 total.

"We were very fortunate to win today," Coronado coach Joe Sawaia said. "We played just good enough to win."

Green Valley (385) and Foothill (410) qualified for next week's 4A State Tournament, a two-day event at Red Hawk Golf Course in Sparks. The Falcons edged Las Vegas by two strokes for the final team berth, but the Wildcats will have strong representation as Thompson takes aim at besting his seventh-place finish from last year.

Thompson went out in 33 on the strength of solid putting, then scrambled in without his best all-around game.

"Coming to the back nine, I knew I could win the tournament, but I just had to keep it together, and I kind of did," Thompson said.

Coronado was forced to keep it together immediately after the tournament, when a pair of rules issues nearly cost the Cougars the title. John Warren was disqualified for failing to sign his scorecard, and another school alleged that a Coronado player illegally offered advice on the 18th hole. The player was cleared of wrongdoing, and Coronado celebrated.

"I could have done without all the drama," Sawaia said.

Many players struggled on the front nine, but recovered to salvage better scores late in the day. Thompson's 70 was the only sub-par round.

"I really expected the scores to be lower across the board," Sawaia said. "But when you tee it up in a championship situation, nerves do funny things to people, including our kids."

Basic's Dustin Borum finished third with a 2-over 73, good for a trip to state. The other three individual state qualifiers are Valley's Nick Green (76) -- who would have carded a better score if not for two lost balls on one hole -- Las Vegas' Rudy Dolatre (80) and Eldorado's Mark Votta (84).