Carson holds narrow lead for second at zone

DAYTON -- The Carson High golf team is exactly where it wants to be going into today's second round of the Northern 4A Regional Tournament. Unfortunately, so are three other teams that could keep the Senators from reaching the state tournament for the fourth consecutive year.

Chad Gilmore unexpectedly shot a team-best 76 as Carson combined to shoot a 414 on Tuesday at Dayton Valley Country Club. The Senators are currently in second place behind Galena, which has already distanced itself with a first-round total of 381. Matt Kisinger shot a 2-under 70 to lead four Grizzlies who shot in the 70s. Galena's fifth member, Wade McElroy, finished with an 80. McQueen and Reed are both one shot back of Carson at 415 and Reno is four shots back at 419.

The top three teams qualify for next week's NIAA/U.S. Bank 4A State Tournament Red Hawk Golf Club at Wingfield Springs in Sparks.

"As bad as some of our guys played, I'm pleased to see we are in second place. Even if it's only by one stroke," said Carson coach Paul Croghan. "Outside of 'Happy (Chad) Gilmore', everybody else thinks they can shoot a lot better."

Tim Hohl, the Senators' lone individual qualifier for state last year, shot an 88. Steve McQuirk shot an 82, Jeremy Nielsen an 83 and J.T. Cockerill an 85. Along with Hohl, Tyson Roser also shot an 88, so either score had to be scratched off the team's overall total. (Only the best five scores count.).

"I think Tim Hohl after 12 holes had only had two pars. That's unlike him," Croghan said. "That's probably the first time we've ever had to cross a score that Tim had. But Steve McQuirk came back at a bit there at the end. J.T. hit the ball good, he just didn't catch many breaks. All of them think they can play better and I know they can."

The Senators, who finished in third place in the Northern 4A regular season standings, have finished fourth the past three years at the zone tournament. And each year they were a stroke behind the third-place team.

"We've been in this position before but it's one hole at a time," Croghan said. "You can't look too far ahead. This course isn't terribly long but there's so much water. From a team standpoint, you kind of need to play damage control. If you can get a 6 on a hole, take it even if you think you can do better. Of course, that's easier to say than it is to do."

Douglas, which figured it would have a solid chance to qualify for state, is in eighth place with a first-round total of 434. Spanish Springs is in sixth place at 421 and Fallon in seventh at 423.

Kisinger's 70 puts him atop the individual leader board. Reed's Jimmy Morris is in second after firing a 2-over 74. Galena's Steven Kafchinski is in third after shooting a 3-over 75. Today's final round will begin around 11 a.m. at Dayton Valley. The top five individual finishers not on a state qualifying team will also advance to state.

"There were some gusty winds out there but nothing too bad," Croghan said. "If if turns out to be as a good a day as it was today, I think we'll be all right."