After a rough start, Douglas High junior Bethany Wurster settled down to shoot a 77 during the first day of competition at the NIAA 4A State Championship golf tournament Tuesday in Boulder City.
Her score was good enough for fourth overall, five strokes out of the lead. Two southern players shot 72s while third place stands at 76.
"It was breezy and a little chilly today," Douglas coach Steve Gustafson said. "But that didn't affect her ball striking. She hit the ball brilliantly from the tee and hit some great approach shots.
"She had a little trouble with the greens and had a number of three-putts today. She felt like she could have fired a 74, but however you look at it, 77 is a great score."
Wurtser's score was the top from the north. Manogue's Alex Phillips and Mackenzie Sowers trailed in seventh and ninth respectively.
"The one advantage Bethany has tomorrow will be her length," Gustafson said. "The course will play 400 yards longer on the second day. She outdrove the competition all day. She played smart when she needed to and was aggressive when she needed to be."
The second and final round of competition starts Wednesday at 11 a.m.
