After a season so dominating that the closest competition was finishing sometimes 40 to 50 strokes back, it stood to reason that the stiffest competition that Douglas High girls' golf team would receive at state would be from the Southern 4A.
Bishop Manogue had different ideas.
After spending the season playing second fiddle to the Tigers in Sierra League play, the Miners wrapped up stellar state tournament with a team score of 687 and the NIAA 4A State title at Hidden Valley Country Club in Reno.
Douglas finished as state runner-ups for the second-consecutive season, finishing at 701.
"Manogue just had career days across the board and really peaked at the right time," Douglas coach Steve Gustafson said. "They played well and there's not much we could have done to stop them."
It was the first time in two full seasons that the Tigers hadn't finished first in a tournament held in Northern Nevada.
Manogue's Alex Phillips won the state individual title in a tiebreaker over Nicole Corpus-Massucci of Bishop Gorman. Both players shot a two-day total of 153.
Phillips finished birdie, eagle, birdie on her final three holes.
Douglas' Bethany Wurster finished in a tie for third with Damonte Ranch's Taylor Quienalty at 156.
Manogue's Mackenzie Sowers finished tied for sixth, giving the Sierra League four of the top six golfers in the state this season.
Also for Douglas, Heather Henderson finished 18th with a 175, Michele Nikkels finished 22nd with a 179, Shelby Louie was tied for 29th with a 191 and Annika Crowe finished 41st at 230.
Douglas wrapped up the year with its second-consecutive regional and league titles.
"We had an amazing season," Gustafson said. "I'm so proud of what the girls accomplished. They just did some very special things this year."
