Golf: Wicker comes back to take 37th at state

Douglas freshman Thomas Wicker bounced back from a tough first day at the Nevada 4A State Golf Championships Monday to take 37th overall at the Somersett Country Club in Reno.

Wicker shot an 82 Tuesday for a two-day total of 172, the best out of the four freshmen competing in the tournament.

"Thomas played much better today," Douglas coach Brent Eddy said. "It was a great experience for Thomas to be able to play with that caliber of golfers.

"It is going to be fun to watch and see how Thomas progresses the next three years. He had a great year."

Spanish Springs came back to win the state team title after Carson led the first day. Carson took second, followed by Bishop Gorman, Green Valley, Palo Verde and Coronado.

Matt Nolasco of Foothill defeated Scott Lewis of Coronado in a playoff to take the state individual title after both posted 146 totals. Carson's Kevin Goles (156) and Spanish Springs' Ren Wilson (158) were the top two scores from the Northern 4A.

Wicker was named first-team all-region for his efforts this season while teammate Eric Guzman, a sophomore, was a second-team honoree.

Spanish Springs, with three players shooting 79 or better, shot a 397 to wipe out Carson's first-day lead and edge the Senators 817-823 to win the 4A title.

Bishop Gorman, which was given a 10-stroke penalty for practicing on the putting green on Sunday at Somersett prior to the event, was third at 833. Green Valley was fourth at 836, Palo Verde was fifth at 838 and Coronado was last at 849.

Three of Carson's scoring players - Goles, Isaac Holt and Sam Staub - shaved strokes off their first-day scores.

Goles, the Senators' top player, went from an 80 to a 4-over-par 76. Holt went from an 85 to an impressive 2-over-par 74. Staub went from an 87 down to an 84.

Zack Rispin shot an 85 and Jon Singer carded an 87. Rispin was bemoaning the fact that he shot seven strokes worse on Tuesday, but his first-day 78 is a big reason why Carson was able to grab the 18-hole lead.

Holt played consistently throughout the day, racking up birdies at Nos. 4, 9 and 12. He should have had a fourth birdie, but he missed a 3-footer at No. 3.

Holt two-putted from 30-feet for a birdie at No. 4, and on No. 9, he hit a sand wedge to 5 feet and one-putted for a birdie. On No. 12, his birdie putt was 2 feet.

He doubled both the 16th and 17th.