STATELINE - Even though Bethany Wurster represents Douglas High School and Alexis Holmes plays for South Tahoe High, they are more like golf teammates.
As good "teammates" do, Wurster and Holmes root for one aonother and inspire each other. For two of the top golfers in the Sierra Division, and the state for that matter, a friendship has formed out of competition.
"It will fuel you to strive for something better. You just want to beat them. You love them, but you want to beat them at the same time," Wurster said Tuesday afternoon following a 3-over-par round of 75 that topped the Sierra Division event at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course. "It's kind of like, 'Oh, I hope you do well, but I hope I do better.'"
Wurster, who birdied six holes, finished seven strokes ahead of Holmes, who came in third with an 82. The last of Wurster's birdies on No. 18 cost Holmes a dinner.
"Once I get my scoring figured out, it's going to be fun," said Holmes, who believes mismanagement of her game at times prevents her from scoring in the 70s. "I'm driving the ball really well, but I'm just hitting bad irons. I overcompenstate sometimes when I shouldn't, so I'm 20 yards long, and it's very difficult to two-putt from there.
"Hopefully by zone I'll get it figured out."
The two friends played Edgewood Tahoe on Sunday in preparation for Tuesday's round, and Wurster beat Holmes 74-76 by eagling the final hole.
Bishop Manogue's Mackenzie Souers broke up the 1-2 Wurster-Holmes finish by shooting an 80. Alex Phillips, the defending state champion and also playing in the group with Wurster and Holmes, came in fifth with an 85.
"It's the first time all three have played together," said STHS coach Marsha Butler. "Bethany and Alexis have developed a really good friendship, but they are always real competitive with each other."
Manogue, the defending state champions, were far superior than their division foes on Tuesday, as four Miners scored 90 or better en route to a 339 team total. Damonte Ranch was second with 419 strokes and Galena and Carson tied for third at 422.
South Tahoe, which placed third in the previous tournament, finished sixth at 458. The Vikings' Morgan Murphy shot 109 and Brittany Rumble fired a 118.
Team scores
1. Manogue 439, 2. Damonte Ranch 419, 3. Galena 422, 3. Carson 422, 5. Fallon 453, 6. South Tahoe 458, 7. Douglas 467, 8. Wooster 526.
Individual scores
Manogue: Alex Phillips 85, Maggie Jones 84, Mackenzie Souers 80, Elise Levy 90, Megan Anderson 136, Lexi Robertson 114.
Damonte Ranch: Shayla Miller 104, Ashleigh Westover 96, Rachael Schryer 101, Morgan Pisane 118.
Galena: Hayley Jensen 100, Skylar Antencio 105, Sydney Atencio 113, Gabi Lucas 109, Rachael Zunino 107, Amanda Parmer 110.
Carson: Megan Justice 113, Whitney Nash 102, Elayna Shine 105, Katie Cowperthwaite 110, Lindsay Burroughs 105, Katie Livermore 110.
Fallon: Megan Hill 109, Brittyn Tidwell 103, Sarah Frandsen 123, Sara Parsons 118, Ashley Bowers 128, Katie Moore 131.
South Tahoe: Alexis Holmes 82, Morgan Murphy 92, Brittany Rumble 118.
Douglas: Bethany Wurster 75, Kelsey Endter 118, Megan Welch 151, Bri Burnside 138, Emily Downer 136, Kristen Greenhut 153.
Wooster: Alana Crosby 123, Zoie Oberg 116, Karlee Day 130, Samantha Burrows 157.
