Kaui, Gators win region title

When a weekend duffer bounces an eagle into the cup from 110 yards away, that person is best described as extremely lucky.

When a strong player like Green Valley's Alex Kaui does it on her second shot at the par-4 14th hole of the Class 4A Sunrise Region tournament, she simply is putting an exclamation point on a dominant performance.

Kaui's 3-under-par 68 blew away the field Thursday at Bear's Best, spearheading the Gators to an especially sweet Sunrise championship.

After falling short last year for the first time in school history, Green Valley moves on to next week's 4A state tournament at Boulder Creek by besting second-place Coronado by 57 strokes, 317-374. The Cougars also advanced, holding off third-place Silverado by five strokes.

For Kaui, the region win came down to solid play off the tee and from the fairway. Kaui added birdies at Nos. 6 and 8 and carded just a single bogey in putting up the only red number of the tournament.

"My hitting was here today," Kaui said. "I was able to get on the green, and my putting's been up for a while."

Said Green Valley coach Greg Murphy: "She's been so consistent all year. She's an outstanding player."

Green Valley performed well top to bottom. Jenny Hahn, the Gators' usual No. 1 player, finished second at 73. Kristen Hsu shot 83, and Emily Schroeder posted 93 for Green Valley's final qualifying score.

Silverado's Brittany Whatley shot 78 to place third, and Almira Wilborn of Canyon Springs was fourth with a 79.

Whatley and Wilborn move on to state as individuals, along with Silverado's Tameka Demps (88), Basic's Jamie Donizio (88) and Tech's Hilary Pauli (92).

SUNSET REGION

Faith Lutheran's Brianna Becker bounced back from a three-putt bogey on the 17th to par the final hole and hold off teammate Annie Freman to seal up the 4A Sunset Region individual championship.

The consolation prize for Freman isn't bad either: The Crusaders claimed their first 4A region crown in convincing fashion at Bear's Best.

Becker's 1-under 70 and Freman's 71 paced Faith Lutheran, and Ashley Lacher finished fifth overall with a 77 as the Crusaders announced their arrival in Nevada's top classification by beating traditional power Bishop Gorman by 35 strokes, 304-339. Both teams advance to the state tournament.

"I knew we were capable of great numbers," Faith Lutheran coach Mark Cheney said. "We didn't really shoot them the past two weeks. I thought we were due for good numbers. We came in with great numbers."

Playing in the No. 2 slot for the Crusaders, Becker could feel fellow freshman Freman right on her heels throughout the day.

"I knew Annie was doing good, but that was it," Becker said.

Becker did a little better thanks to her play around and on the greens. She needed just 26 putts in her round, playing the four par-3 holes at 3 under, and shot the low nine holes of the day with a 34 on the front.

Spring Valley's Julia Graham was third with a 73, standing in contention with Becker and Freman until she went bogey-double bogey at Nos. 17 and 18. Nicole Corpus of Gorman fired a 74 to place fourth.

Graham advanced to the state tournament as an individual qualifier, along with Arbor View's Alyssa Ballew (83), Spring Valley's Alyssa Wilson (95), Arbor View's Shaylee Hollan (97) and Deloise Daniels (97) and Cimarron-Memorial's Kellie Busse (97).

3A SOUTHERN LEAGUE

Hannah Bulloch and Felisha Baeza each carded a 12-over 83 at Falcon Ridge to help Virgin Valley capture the tournament title.

The Bulldogs had a team score of 344 to earn a bid to the state meet, on Oct. 21 and 22 at Boulder City Municipal and Boulder Creek. Boulder City, the only other school to field a full team, had a score of 392.

Bulloch beat Baeza in a one-hole playoff to win the individual title. Virgin Valley's Tara Hansen finished third with an 89, beating teammate Taylor Wier in a scorecard playoff.

Boulder City's Indiana Mead (93), Brianna Morang (94), Bridget Ward (102) and Elizabeth Ropp (103) and Moapa Valley's Haley Causey (102) earned individual state bids.