By Breven Honda
On Thursday, the White Pine High School Girls Golf team brought home a banner to its unforgettable season.
At the par-71 Ruby View Golf Course in Elko, White Pine posted 515 strokes in the team competition to defeat Wells and Battle Mountain to secure the 2023 Class 2A East Region Championship.
It is the first regional championship in White Pine girls golf history.
Breven Honda – The White Pine Girls Golf team won the very first regional championship in girls golf history.
Although Wells had three players inside the top four, the Ladycats had four players in the top 11 among the individual competitors. Wells’ fourth player came 13 spots later at No. 17.
Leading the way for the Ladycats was Kylee Knudsen, who placed second with 116. Macayla Bybee finished seventh with 128. Finishing third for the Ladycats and ninth overall was Faith Ellis at 133 and Payton Walker finished two spots later in 11th with 138.
Having three players in a five-spot span and at the back end of the top 10 proved to be the difference maker in being the regional champions.
Also competing for White Pine at Regionals was Rilee Taylor, who finished at No. 14 with 172.
With the regional victory, White Pine advances to the state tournament meet, on Oct. 17-18 at Toiyabe Golf Club in New Washoe City, Nevada.
In addition to White Pine advancing, Wells and Battle Mountain each earned spots in the state tournament as well as the three players from West Wendover who competed at regionals.
The Toiyabe course is par-72.
Knudsen tees off Tuesday 11:00 a.m. with Libby Webb from North Tahoe, Morgan Hayes from Sage Ridge and Olivia Kutansky from Oasis.
At 11:50 a.m., Bybee tees off with Cailyn Schroder from Sierra Lutheran and Grace Otto from Wells.
Walker tees off at 12:20 p.m. with Jaylee Jorgensen from Battle Mountain and Norma Alvarado from West Wendover.
McKenna Barney, Ellis and Taylor tee off in consecutive 10-minute groupings beginning at 12:30 p.m.
Action on Wednesday is scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. After 36 holes, the school with best four scores in the team category will be crowned the 2023 2A State Team Champions while the player with the best score will be the individual champion.
Last year during the state championship, Knudsen led the way for White Pine, finishing No. 17, while Barney placed 30th.
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