It would've taken an unbelievable second round by all six Carson High golfers and a complete collapse by first round leader Eureka for the Senators to win the 10th annual Dick Stoddard Memorial Golf Tournament on Thursday at Eagle Valley.
Neither happened, but a record-breaking round isn't a bad alternative.
The Senators finished in eighth place after finishing with a two-day total of 790, their best score of the season. Eureka, Calif., captured first place with a 756, an amazing 16 shots better than second place Valley Christian (772).
Carson's top score on Thursday was Shawn Heinz, who fired a 5-over 77 to finish with a career best 153. Steven McQuirk, who stood in fourth place overall after Wednesday's first round, stumbled a bit on Thursday, shooting an 8-over 80 to finish with a two-day total of 152.
"He (McQuirk) had a bad couple of holes and if not for those he would've been in the 70s," said coach Paul Croghan. "Heinz played exceptionally well, a career two-day low for him. This was our best score of the year. If we can shoot around 400 the rest of the season, I'll be elated."
Eureka's Tony Slade was the top player overall, finishing with a 4-under 140 after an impressive 3-under 69 on Thursday on the west course at Eagle Valley . But the scary part might be that he should've scored better.
"I had six birdies, one eagle, six pars, and five bogeys," Slade said of his second round. "I think I could've scored way better, but I'm pretty happy. This was my best two-day total ever."
First-round leader Jonathan Sapper of Fortuna, Calif., had a 76 on Thursday after a 3-under 69 on Wednesday on the east course. He still ended up in second place overall with a 145. Six players tied for fifth place at 150, including McQueen's Casey Sutherland, the best score of any Northern Nevada golfer.
Slade trailed Sapper by one stroke going into the final round and the two were paired in the same group. Slade thinks that helped him.
"I knew I was going to have to shoot under par to win it," Slade said. "I got to play with the first round leader and we were tied after nine holes. I just putted a lot better today, the ball rolled more true on these greens than on the other course."
Scott Oxarat, Carson's lone senior, also had a good tournament, finishing with a 158 after a first-round score of 78.
"We have only one senior," Croghan said. " We had consistency and depth (this tournament). That's why we play in tournaments like these."
The Senators have a league meet on Tuesday at Empire Ranch. They've finished fourth and sixth in two league tournaments so far this season. Croghan feels that if his team is one of nine teams to qualify for the Northern 4A regional championships, they have a good shot at making the state tournament. The top three teams qualify for state.
"It would be pretty hard for us not to make the zone tournament, but anything can happen," Croghan said. "But if we keep improving like we are, it wouldn't be out of the question for us to finish in the top three once we get there."
Galena finished in 15th place out of 18 teams with a two-day total of 833. Carson's second team finished in 17th at 865.
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