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Editor’s note: This story is reprinted with permission from The Humboldt Sun and was written by Tony Erquiaga.
Lowry’s Tatyana Carlson hits a shot during the NIAA 3A State Girls Golf Championships in Pahrump.
At the end of the season, the Lady Bucks golf team of Lowry High School – Hannah Havens, Mekenzie Vandemark, Angelina Martinez, Kaitlyn Hales, Tatyana Carlson and head coach Todd Milton -finished it’s season at the NIAA 3A State Championships at Mountain Falls Golf Club in Pahrump, played Wednesday Oct. 18 and Thursday, Oct. 19, in fifth place. Tatyana Carlson finished fifth overall at 161. These are respectable positions to be in, but, hardly the stuff of heady dreams. Right?
Consider that at the beginning of August, the year started out with the team having doubts if there would even be a full squad so that they would be able to compete. Finally finding enough members of the team to compete, the Lowry roster was all underclassmen comprised of three juniors and two freshman. Imagine, the odd so stacked against your team from the beginning and fighting one’s way to fifth place. Where would your head be at, then?
If you were Tatyana, you would be submitting a message to the local news, through proud mother Anna Villaverde Carlson, stating to thank Nana Dora, Mac Villaverde, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends for the support and how greatly appreciative she is for it. Ms. Carlson indicated an especial thanks to her siblings, Jojo Tameron and Susan Villaverde “for the wishes and thumbs up”, and, to all the people of Superior who showed their support through Facebook. Which is an attitude that shows the championship spirit of Ms. Carlson, her team, her family, and the community from which they spring.
Lowry went from the humble almost non-beginnings of August, to finished third in the Northern 3A with just five players. Last week, the Lady Bucks shot 405 and 414 for a two-day total of 819, bringing them into fifth place. Tatyana Carlson, a Lowry Junior, with rounds of 76 and 85 finished fifth overall (161) and was the highest Northern 3A finisher She was in second place after the first 18 holes of the tournament. She was named Co-Player of the Year in the Northern 31, along with Elko’s Annika Criss, who finished sixth (163).
Spring Creek was sixth place (845), SECTA finished in fourth place with 779. Pahrump Valley, with home course advantage, placed third after rounds of 375 and 353 for a 753. The defending state champion team of Elko finished second at 741. The Eagles led Elko by three strokes (359-362) after the first 18 hole. Boulder City carded at 345 on the final 18 holes to shoot 704, stepping up from state runner up from the previous season to win the state championship, on this last season, on day two.
Lani Potter of Boulder City won the individual title for a second consecutive year, with a two day total of 149 after rounds of 75 and 74. Coming in second was Western’s Carolyn Lemon (157). Cassidy Phelan of SECTA finished third (179). Pahrump Valley’s Breanne Nygard’s two-day score of 160 brought her into fourth place. Junior Hannah Havens shot 99 on the first day and 107 on day two , to tie for 18th place with a 206. Freshman Angelina Martinez, who played in her first state championship, had the same rounds of 104 on both days to shoot 208, tied for 21st. Mekenzie Vandemark shot 126-118-244 to finish 39th and freshman Kaitlyn Hales carded rounds of 135 and 150 for a 265 to place 43rd.
To recap the highlights of the 2017 NAA 31 State Girls Golf Championships the team scores were for: 1. Boulder City, 359-345-704; 2. Elko, 362-379-7416; 3. Pahrump Valley, 378-375-753; 4. SECTA, 380-399-779; 5. Lowry, 405-414-819, and 6. Spring Creek, 423-422-845.
Congratulations to the Lady Bucks for persevering and prospering in the face of adversity. Way to go, Lowry!
Tatyana is the granddaughter of Nacho and Dora Villaverde of Superior.
Tatyana wants to thank Nana Dora and Mac Villaverde, Aunts, Uncles, cousins and friends for the support it was greatly appreciated also to brother Jojo Tameron and sister Susan Villaverde for the wishes and thumbs up. And to the people from Superior who supported her on Facebook ,“I can’t say how much it means.”
There are news or informational items frequently written by staff or submitted to the Copper Basin News, San Manuel Miner, Superior Sun, Pinal Nugget or Oracle Towne Crier for inclusion in our print or digital products. These items are not credited with an author.
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