Getting a last-minute tune-up before the Nevada State Junior Golf Amateur Championships was just what Bethany Wurster needed.
Wurster, who will be entering her freshman year of high school this fall, claimed the state championship in the girls' 13-14 division at D'Andrea in Reno this week with a two-day total of 164 " seven strokes better than her closest competition.
"The day before the tournament, I had a lesson and I think that really helped straighten out my shots," Wurster said. "I just focused on trying to make my shots and I had enough of a lead by the final hole that I just needed a three-put to win.
"That took a lot of pressure off and I two-putted it. I was pretty excited."
It was Wurster's best finish of the summer circuit season.
She took second with an 85 the week prior at Red Hawk and tied for fourth at the Washoe City Championship five days before that with an 87.
When she shot an 83 on the first day of the state championships, she knew she was in line for something special.
"We teed off late, so I was a little worried about the wind," she said. "I managed to pull through though and I was in the lead after Day 1.
"Heading into it, I was so nervous, I thought I was going to throw up on the first day. The second day I felt much better."
And it showed. Wurster tore through the course in heat upwards of 100 degrees, shooting an 81 to take the tournament.
"That was the hardest thing about the second day was that it was just super hot," she said.
Even though it was the firs major win of her five-year golfing career, she took it in stride.
"I was pretty excited but I tried to keep my cool until the actual award," she said. "My mom was so happy that she was crying."
Wurster said she plans on trying out for the Douglas girls' golf team this fall.
She wasn't the only Carson Valley youth to fare well at the state championships.
Douglas sophomores-to-be Heather Henderson and Greg Coleman each finished 10th in their respective girls' and boys' 15-17 divisions.
