Galena High School will open defense of its team title today when the NIAA/U.S. Bank 4A State Golf Tournament tees off in Las Vegas.
Eight teams will vie for honors in the 36-hole tournament, which continues on Tuesday at Dragon Ridge Country Club.
Galena won last year's state tournament with a 765 score, beating Durango on a tie-breaker, and Travis Whisman won his second straight individual title with a state record 138 score.
The Grizzlies finished third at the Northern 4A Region Tournament last Monday in Elko with a team score of 409, one stroke behind Reno and Elko in the No. 1 spot. Reno won the zone title on a tie-breaker.
Galena sophomore Bryson Young earned medalist honors with a 2-over par 73 at Ruby View Golf Course and Whisman shot 78 to tie for sixth.
Carson missed going to state as a team when it finished fifth on a tie-breaker, but John Chirila (76), Toby Steele (81) and Josh Bratzler (81) earned individual berths. Chirila and Steele are both fourth-year varsity veterans at Carson.
Green Valley comes in as the Southern 4A champion after shooting 383 to outdistance Durango last weekend at Anthem Country Club.
Durango junior Chad Fosburg shot 1-under par 71 to earn his second individual zone title.
