Lowry slips past Virgin Valley for Class 3A crown

Seven strokes.

That was all that prevented Virgin Valley's boys golf team from winning its first Class 3A state championship since 2005 on Wednesday at Falcon Ridge in Mesquite.

Lowry took the team title and its ninth state trophy, and first since a 2A crown in 1986, with a 36-hole total of 834 to Virgin Valley's 841.

"I feel sorry for the seniors because they'll look back and they'll think about seven shots that they could have helped," Virgin Valley coach Kirk Hafen said. "That's golf."

The teams were deadlocked at 422 after Tuesday's first round at The Canyons in Mesquite. But Virgin Valley trailed Lowry by five shots after the front nine Wednesday and was unable to make up any ground.

"That back nine, that's where on this course it's going to be won or lost," Hafen said. "I thought we would have a little advantage here. The kids have played this course a bunch of times, and I think that their nerves just got to them.

"I know that it did yesterday, and I think it showed up a little bit again. But we're happy; second in the state's not bad."

The individual state title went to Truckee senior Allan Nousiainen, who sank a birdie putt on the 18th hole to win a one-hole playoff over Lowry senior Joe Dendary. Both players shot 5-over-par 76 to finish with two-day totals of 150.

"I don't know how to explain it right now," Nousiainen said. "It's just unbelievable. I made enough putts to keep myself in it. It means a lot to know that all the hard work I've put in has paid off."

The top finisher from Southern Nevada was Moapa Valley sophomore Cody Kelly, who carded a 76 to finish with a 153 total. He edged Virgin Valley sophomore Ryan Baeza (75-78-153) on a scorecard playoff for third place.

"I've got two more years, so hopefully I can get a state championship," Kelly said.

Spring Creek senior Homer Andrae (74-80-154) took fifth, and Virgin Valley senior Lucas Molin (83-77-160) was sixth.

Hafen was optimistic for the future largely because of Baeza, who won the 3A Southern League tournament title.

"We've got a pretty good nucleus coming back," Hafen said. "With Ryan being a year older, he's going to improve with time, and we can build around him, that's for sure."

CLASS 2A

Mineral County's Foster Kenton shot par 71 at Rivers Edge in Needles, Calif., to win the individual Class 2A boys golf state title.

Kenton finished with a two-round score of 149, one stroke ahead of North Tahoe's Alec Griffith and Whittell's Trevor Fairbanks.

Mountain View's Dennis Bee shot an 84 on Wednesday and finished in a tie for 18th at 166.

Whittell won the team competition with a 36-hole total of 794. North Tahoe was second at 816, followed by Battle Mountain at 868. Lake Mead was sixth in the six-team field with a score of 982.

Contact reporter Tristan Aird at taird@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5203.