Foothill freshman works OT

Not even 36 holes of golf could decide the Sunrise Region boys golf champion Wednesday.

But after a drama-powered 37th hole at Mountain Falls Golf Club in Pahrump, Foothill's Taylor Montgomery edged Coronado's A.J. McInerney after both golfers had shot a tournament-best 68 on the final day to finish with a two-day total of 142.

"It felt pretty good, because I know (McInerney is) a good player," Montgomery, a freshman, said of netting the win. "To stay tied with him like that is good for me. My short game kept me in it."

The Cougars won the team event, scoring 752 to second-place Green Valley's 827. The Gators edged Foothill (832) to take the second team spot to state, which begins Monday at TPC Las Vegas.

"This is a really special group; they're young, they're talented, they work hard and have great attitudes," Coronado coach Joe Sawaia said. "It's a dream to get out of their way and watch them play."

McInerney gained the upper hand with the tee shot, driving the ball more than 200 yards into the middle of the fairway, while Montgomery's ball strayed slightly left and landed in a bunker. But Montgomery powered his approach shot behind the green and then chipped to within 2 feet of the hole for the easy putt and the win.

"He is the hardest working kid I've ever seen, and I coach football, too," Foothill coach Paul DeSantis said. "Every day he is working hard."

McInerney began the back nine with birdies on six of seven holes. Montgomery had six birdies and an eagle with only two bogeys to stay afloat during McInerney's charge.

Silverado's Josh Fisher carded a second-round 69 for a 148 total and third place.

Coronado's Tad Darland also finished at 148, and Green Valley's Ryan Green was fifth at 150.

In addition to Montgomery and Fisher, Foothill's Bailey Rogers, Larry Lopez and Connor Bodin and Eldorado's Giovanni Latty qualified for state as individuals.

SUNSET REGION

Palo Verde's Dillon Dudley fired a 1-under-par 71, and the Panthers improved by 52 strokes on the second day for a two-day total of 810 to overtake Centennial and clinch the Sunset Region title.

"Hopefully that doesn't happen again, because our No. 1 (Kyle Melchiorre) shot 89 (at Siena on Monday)," Dudley said. "But knowing that we can overcome pretty good and shoot in the low 70s like today, it feels good. And hopefully we can give (Sunrise champion) Coronado a run for their money."

Centennial, which was led by individual runner-up Greg Kerber's 72, finished at 817 to punch its ticket to the state tournament. The Bulldogs had an 11-stroke lead entering Wednesday's final round.

"It was a good recovery," said Dudley, who shot two eagles and two birdies. "I was all over the place, but then I could recover on the next hole. The par 5s were my holes today; I tore them up. It was a good day."

Arbor View sophomore Zane Thomas carded a final-round 69 and a two-day total of 142 to win the individual championship for the second year in a row.

Thomas was one of two golfers to shoot in the 70s at Siena on Monday, and after a few early wind gusts at Mountain Falls, the weather calmed down and the sophomore played his game.

"I felt like if I could get off the tee in play, then I could shoot a pretty low score today," Thomas said. "I tried to play down the middle (par golf), and I just happened to birdie a couple of par 5s."

Kerber finished second with a 149 total, and Yuki Kato of Faith Lutheran shot 73 on the second day for a 153 and third place. Dudley was fourth.

Thomas, Kato, Pahrump Valley's Shane Lindemann and Desert Oasis' Niko Gonnell and Soungjae Baek qualified for state as individuals.

Contact reporter Sean Walker at swalker@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0430.