I-A GOLF: Logan ignores competition, captures fourth title

Boulder City’s Luke Logan stopped keeping track of his group’s individual scores just before the final nine holes of the Division I-A Southern Region tournament to focus on his own game and prevent any self-induced stress.

The approach allowed the senior to stay at ease, and ultimately, led to a fourth consecutive region title.

Logan shot 5-over-par 77 on Wednesday to win the region title at Siena Golf Club, and finished the tournament at 1-over 145. Faith Lutheran’s Charlie Magruder, the defending state individual champion, was second at 149, and Dallas Haun (153) was third for the Crusaders, who easily took the title at 780.

Boulder City was second at 877, followed by Pahrump Valley with 910.

“It means a lot (to win it four times),” Logan said. “To win it my freshman year, I had to shoot a 66. That was big because I didn’t really shoot those kind of scores then. I just really wanted to win region four times because it never happens.”

Logan, who had a two-stroke lead over Magruder after the first round at Palm Valley on Tuesday, found himself at 1-over in the tournament following a bogey on No. 11 and a double-bogey on No. 12. He made a seven-foot birdie putt on No. 14 to make it back to par, and had a three-stroke lead over Magruder going into the 17th.

But he had no idea.

“I didn’t even know what my lead was at,” Logan said. “I stopped counting where Charlie was at about (hole) 8 or 9. Just mentally, I was so focused on him that I wasn’t able to do whatever I wanted on my own.”

Things became hectic on No. 17 when Logan’s tee shot wound up in the bunker, and Magruder placed a perfect shot on target with the flag.

“It was a long hole into the wind,” Logan said. “I tried to do a simple swing and came over it and put it in that bunker. After I went in, I just said, ‘Let’s play for bogey.’ And I kind of knew that.”

Logan, who also wound up in the desert on his third shot, ended the hole with a double-bogey, but Magruder couldn’t capitalize. Magruder nearly made birdie, but his ball kept rolling once it found a hill. It resulted in his first bogey on the back nine.

“I was thinking on 17, ‘If I’m going to do something, it’s got to be now,’ ” Magruder said. “And I really just tried to stick it close for a birdie, and then I got a little too aggressive with the putt. I guess it landed somewhat behind (the hole) and kept on going.”

Logan birdied the last hole, while Magruder bogeyed on his all-out attempt.

Moapa Valley’s Jacob Causey (153) and Sierra Vista’s George Kim (158) rounded out the top five golfers.

Andrew Boka (159), Mitch Conley (160) and Robert Gabour (161) took the next three spots to help Faith Lutheran grab its third consecutive region title.

Haun, the Crusaders’ senior leader, was pleased with his team’s effort.

“There’s obviously pressure going in being the favorite,” he said. “But our coach told us from the get-go, to stick to our routines and let the scores come as they may.

“This feels great. I don’t think many teams can say they won three region titles in a row, for any sport.”

Contact reporter Ashton Ferguson at aferguson@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430. Follow him on Twitter: @af_ferguson.