RENO - Despite some putting issues on the front side, Carson High's Garrett Gingell shot a first-round 79 at the NIAA 4A State Golf Championships Monday at Hidden Valley Country Club.
Gingell is currently in 24th place. Bishop Manogue's Kevin Andrews, one of four players to shoot par or better, leads the way with a 2-under-par 70.
Coronado's A.J. McInerney is a stroke back at 71, while Spanish Springs' Jordan Gilmore and Coronado's Zane Thomas are tied for third with even-par 72s. Coronado's Tad Dorland is at 1-over 73.
"He played better than his score indicated," said Carson coach Terry Gingell. "He hit the ball very well; very solid.
"He had some bad putting on the front nine; a four-putt and a couple of three putts. The greens were fast; quite a bit faster than what he's normally used to. I thought he played solid all day. On the back nine he putted reasonably well."
Despite the woes with the flat stick, Gingell still shot a respectable 3-over-par 39 on the front. He birdied the 449-yard par-4 fourth and the 396-yard par-4 ninth.
On the back nine he had a double-bogey, two bogeys and six pars.
The tournament concludes today starting at 9:15 a.m.
PETERSON TIED FOR SECOND
Dayton's Mike Peterson carded a 79 in the first round of the 3A tournament, also being held at Hidden Valley.
Peterson is in a five-way tie for second. Fallon's Matt Vanderbeek leads the way with an even-par 72.
