Western junior playing with confidence

Charlee Kapiioho had to live with the disappointment for a year.

As a sophomore in 2007, the Western golfer entered the Sunset Region tournament with high hopes of advancing to the Class 4A girls state tournament for the first time. Instead, Kapiioho shot 98 on a windy day at Boulder Creek Golf Club and missed qualifying by one stroke.

"It was heartbreaking that I didn't make it," Kapiioho said.

The near miss motivated the junior to work on her game even more, and it all paid off Tuesday when she fired an 83 at Silverstone Golf Club and finished tied for third in the Sunset Region to earn a spot at state.

The state tournament is scheduled to tee off at 8:15 a.m. today and conclude Tuesday at Hidden Valley Country Club in Reno.

"I was confident I was going to make it this year," said Kapiioho, who will play in a threesome that includes Ashley Manhnieo of Las Vegas. "Every time I practiced, I told myself, 'This year, I'm making it for state. I'm going to be up there.' "

Kapiioho spent the past year working with Warriors coach James Girard, who provided her with an inspirational message: Second place wants it, first place trains for it.

"That pushed me a little bit," Kapiioho said. "My coach helped me out and I played a lot more tournaments over the summer. I just became more serious."

The two spent hours on the driving range to improve Kapiioho's ball-striking and also worked on her putting. But the biggest difference in Kapiioho this year is the mental side of the game.

"She knows how to get herself in the right mindset. She's more focused," Girard said. "She's a very dedicated individual and she really strives to be better at the game. She's got it in her. We've just got to get it all coming together at the right time."

Kapiioho and Palo Verde's Sonja Pejak each shot 83 at the regional, although Pejak won a scorecard tiebreaker to officially take third place.

Kapiioho opened her round with a 4-over 40 on the Valley Course -- only medalist Nichole Corpus-Massucci of Bishop Gorman (36) and Pejak (39) were better out of the Sunset Region -- and showed plenty of resiliency early on. After a double bogey on No. 2, Kapiioho birdied the third hole and parred five of the next six.

"She bounces back from a bad hole and doesn't let it get her down," Girard said.

If not for a four-putt double bogey on her final hole, Kapiioho might have finished as high as second place.

A birdie would have put Kapiioho in the clubhouse at 80, one shot better than Bishop Gorman's Nicolette Rivera. A par would have tied Rivera for second place, and a bogey would have given Kapiioho sole possession of third.

"I'm happy with what I shot, but I would have liked to finish a little better," Kapiioho said. "All I've got to do is come back at state now."

Kapiioho is confident that if she eliminates the little mistakes that plagued her at the regional she has a chance to score well over the two-day state tournament in Reno.

"I've just got to put two good rounds together," Kapiioho said. "I have to think my way around the course."

• 3A STATE TOURNAMENT -- Boulder City and Virgin Valley will shoot for the state title at the Class 3A tournament today and Tuesday at Spring Creek Golf Course near Elko.

Faith Lutheran sends four individuals, including Southern League Tournament champion Ashley Lacher, to the meet.