Borcherts bags title in playoff

With the sun quickly setting Tuesday evening, only 12 feet separated Centennial senior Alex Borcherts from a state golf championship.

One swing later, Borcherts drilled the par putt and earned the Class 4A title by beating Coronado's Bethany Glassford on the second playoff hole at Canyon Gate Country Club.

"I have missed a lot of putts just barely off the edge," Borcherts said. "I just felt like I was due. All week I've been a little unlucky, so I just felt like on that putt, it was just mine to make."

Silverado came from six shots back, shooting 451 Tuesday to win the team title. The Skyhawks finished at 920, 15 strokes ahead of first-round leader Douglas. Green Valley was third at 946.

Borcherts and Glassford -- who both posted 160 totals -- parred the first playoff hole. On the second, Borcherts hit her drive into the rough to the left of the fairway.

Glassford found even more trouble, as her tee shot ended up in the water.

After laying up on her second shot, Borcherts chipped to within 12 feet to set up the winning putt.

"I've been in a lot of playoffs before. I actually won a seventh-hole playoff in a USGA event, so I have experience," Borcherts said. "And I think that really helped me. And to have my whole team here and to have my whole family here was really good to me, because I just had that extra push, extra help."

Borcherts was tied for third after the first round at 82, three strokes behind co-leader Glassford.

The Centennial senior shot 6-over-par 78 Tuesday to force the playoff. Because the players were split into threesomes Tuesday, Borcherts wasn't sure exactly where she stood. Glassford was playing in the final group, one hole behind Borcherts.

"I focused better, and my putting and everything was a little better," Borcherts said of her Tuesday round. "I knew I was close, but I didn't think it was enough, honestly.

"I kind of looked back at her a few times."

As it turned out, Glassford needed to sink a 5-foot par putt on 18 for an 81 to tie Borcherts and force the playoff.

In the team race, Silverado had three players shoot 83 or better Tuesday to capture its first state golf title.

"It was time," Skyhawks coach Tari Hawks said. "We were close before, but we've never had the whole package come together at just the right time, and that's what happened. It's great for the girls."

Stephanie Whatley led the way, shooting 78 Tuesday. She finished third individually at 163. Teammate Tameka Demps turned in an 80, tying Whatley at 163 for the tournament and finishing fourth after a scorecard playoff.

The biggest jump for Silverado came from Brittany Rizzetto, who carded an 83 Tuesday after shooting 92 in the opening round.

Hawks said the team got a boost from being in second place after the first day, and being ahead of Green Valley, which defeated the Skyhawks in the Sunrise Region tournament.

"They gained confidence and they also gained focus, because we've been up and down and back and forth with Green Valley all season," Hawks said. "And they didn't want that to happen again."

• CLASS 3A -- Pahrump Valley captured its third consecutive Class 3A girls state title, shooting a two-day total of 960 at Palm Valley.

The Trojans shot 487 Tuesday, finishing 17 strokes ahead of second-place Virgin Valley.

Ashley Keller was Pahrump's top individual, shooting a two-day 173 to tie for fourth. Incline's Katelyn Wright was the individual champion at 156.

Contact Prep Sports Editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4587.