The boys golf team wrapped up their postseason in Vegas on May 13th. Heading into the postseason, the Miners were undefeated in the regular season and were seeking a third-straight 5A northern title. But their sights were higher as they felt they could take home a state championship.
The northern regional championship first round started on May 4th and ended on the morning of the f5th due to postponement due to lightning the prior day. Once all was concluded for the first round, Reno had an 11-stroke lead over Manogue as a team while Zach Peterson, senior from McQueen, led the individual field, shooting a 69, 3-under round. The Miners started the second round ready for an epic comeback. And they did with help from freshman Elijah Munns shooting a 75, junior Ethan Cua shooting a 76, and junior Einar Knudsen shooting a 79. All came together to come back and win the North, shooting a 616 as a team through both rounds. Turning to the individual title, with Zach Peterson shooting a 73 in the final group, it opened the door for junior Luke Swanson to sink a birdie putt on the 18th hole to secure a 71, 1-under round, and a one-shot win over Peterson. Luke Swanson and Manogue have now ruled the North with three-straight regional titles. Even with this, first year head coach Griffin Cooper was repeatedly saying “we have to be close to par to have a chance with the southern teams”.
With not much time to celebrate this victory as Manogue automatic qualified for State at Boulder Creek in Vegas on May 12th and 13th, the Miners now had to look higher and try to accomplish what their coach wanted from them. With State the following week, the Miners had to work fast and hard to shoot closer to par as a team. And coach was right as in the South, Coronado won as a team with a 1-under, 575 through two rounds and Palo Verde’s Tripp Hildreth shooting a 7-under, 137 to win individuals, Manogue had a lot of pressure now. So, on May 12th, the Miners came onto the course. But Manogue finished day 1 in fifth place with a 317, only beating Reed. So, heading into round 2, Manogue just was trying to bounce back. The Miners ended up beating all Northern teams, taking 4th in state with a score of 620, 14-strokes off third place Palo Verde and 31-srtrokes off the state champion Bishop Gorman.
Although those two days to finish their state run was disappointing, the Miner boys swing into the offseason with major accomplishments this spring season. Manogue now holds another northern title, went undefeated, and are young. On the 6-man roster for the postseason, there was no seniors on it. On the full, 13-man varsity roster, there was only one senior. Meaning this team could stay good and get even better next year. The Miners have been the northern threat and even ruler the past few years but, hopefully they can be a true threat to the whole state.
