Coronado able to dodge gusts

Coronado's boys golf team doesn't need much help.

The Cougars breezed to the Sunrise Region title last week and have been among the leading teams in Southern Nevada all season.

But Mother Nature gave Coronado a slight upper hand over the rest of the Class 4A state field Monday.

The Cougars, who had players in each of the first four pairings, dodged most of the gusty winds at TPC Las Vegas en route to a first-day team score of 389, two better than Palo Verde.

The two-day tournament concludes today. The Cougars are pursuing their first state title.

"We caught a little bit of a break here, getting in before the really strong winds," Coronado coach Joe Sawaia said. "We avoided any really bad holes as a team."

Coronado was the first team with all six of its golfers to finish the round. As the afternoon progressed, winds gusted to nearly 40 mph, making play tricky at best.

The Cougars weren't immune from the wind, but had fewer problems than other teams.

"I'm really proud of the kids how they fought out there," Sawaia said. "That much wind on this kind of golf course, there's a wreck waiting to happen pretty much on every hole."

Cougars freshman Tad Darland did the best job of dealing with a tough course and tougher conditions, posting the day's low score, 2-over par 73.

"Tad just has so much competitiveness," Sawaia said. "He just doesn't give in."

Zach Carroll added a 74 for the Cougars and Kevin Stratton shot 77.

"We just need to play the golf course the way we know how," Sawaia said. "We have to improve (today). We can't shoot what we did (Monday) and expect to win."

With a first-day score of 391, Palo Verde remains in the hunt for its first championship since 2001.

"Our kids hung really, really tough," Panthers coach Jeff Wolfram said. "That's some terrible weather out there. There was definitely an advantage going out early, but that's the way it goes."

Erik Newkirk continued his fine late-season shooting with a 74. Chris Viravongsa added a 77 for the Panthers.

"Erik played another great round," Wolfram said. "He played really great on the back (nine)."

Spanish Springs is third at 400, followed by Centennial (406), Green Valley (438) and Galena (439).

Las Vegas High's Ray Gillip carded a 75 to place two strokes behind Darland, the leader.