Golfers shooting for title

     By Mark Waite
     View staff writer
      The Pahrump Valley High School girls' golf team has been one of the school's most successful athletic programs, capturing the state title in 1997, along with a second-place trophy in 1996 and third-place finishes the past two years.
      Julie Floyd, who begins her 12th season as coach, attributed the success to tradition.
      "I think the consistency of me coaching for that long has helped, and we have a real good junior-high golf program," Floyd said.
      Pahrump is one of the few areas in the state where junior high school students have a golf team. Bob Hopkins, Floyd's assistant coach, runs the junior high golf team in the spring. Hopkins took over as junior high coach this past year from Lorraine Crowther, who was the coach during the program's first seven years.
      "They get them started in sixth, seventh and eighth grade, and then by the time they get to high school they can hit the ball pretty well, so that's helped a lot to their success," Floyd said.
      Floyd said there will be five seniors returning this season: Lori Hopkins, who finished fifth in the state with an average score of 91 last year; Breanna Raner, who had an average of 99; Emily Cross (101); Terri Nilson (106); and Ashley Washington (121).
      The Trojans opened the season Aug. 21 at Palm Valley Golf Course in Summerlin and took first place with a team score of 513. Boulder City's team finished second at 571.
      Raner led the Trojans in the opener, shooting 95 at the Palm Valley meet, Hopkins carded a 96 and Cross shot 100. Nilson's 108 and Washington's 114 rounded out the team scores. Floyd said Raner, Hopkins and Cross are hitting the ball well and is looking for solid performances from the trio.
      The Lady Trojans also won their second match Thursday at The Palms course in Moapa Valley, with a 510, well ahead of second-place Boulder City (570). Hopkins tied Tahnew Harrison of Boulder City for low medalist honors with a score of 90.
      Floyd said she expects 10 golfers to join the team once school starts and physicals are finished. The other players include junior Laura Norton and freshmen Genna Eason, Sara Losofsky, Jacinda Janneck and Savannah Keep. Six golfers usually play in matches, with the worst score thrown out.
      "Our main competition is going to be Boulder City. They were the zone champions last year, they placed second in state last year," Floyd said. "They lost three seniors, though they'll improve as the season goes on. I'm sure they'll get real competitive with us."
      The Trojans will get to know the competition in the Class 3A Southern Conference real well. They play the same teams every match, Floyd said: Boulder City, Moapa Valley, Virgin Valley and Faith Lutheran.
      Pahrump Valley returns to the links Thursday with a match in Mesquite, Virgin Valley's home course. They host their first match Sept. 7, then travel to Las Vegas on Sept. 19.
      The rest of the matches are scheduled for Sept. 22 and 23 (Willow Creek Invitational in Pahrump); Sept. 26 (at Boulder City); Sept. 28 (at Overton); and Oct. 6 (at Pahrump).
      The league qualifying match follows Oct. 13 at Boulder City, and the state finals are scheduled Oct. 19 and 20 at Mesquite.