Girls, Boys America’s Cup Report: Girls Finish Fourth
The Southern Nevada girls team wound up fourth in the 2018 Girls Junior Americas Cup held July 23-27, 2018 at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, Colo., the best team finish for Southern Nevada since 1980. Mexico was the team champ, winning by 11 strokes over runner-up Southern California. Northern Nevada wound up 12th. — By Bill Bowman, Las Vegas Golf Insider staff.
Mexico had a three-day total of 642 (12-over) to win while Southern California was second at 653 (+23). Southern Nevada was at 670 while Northern Nevada had a score of 706. Southern Nevada stayed around the lead all three days and was tied for first after round one.
The Southern Nevada team was comprised of Riana Mission (75-72-74—220), McKenzi Hall (68-77-77—222), Gabrielle DeNunzio (75-80-81—236) and Kyndall Newman (83-76-77—236). Mission wound up seventh in the individual race with the three-round total of 220, +10. Hall was ninth with a 222 total, +12. Hall also had the lowest round of the tournament with a first-round 68.
“We’re very proud of the girls,” said Nicole Dutt, co-coach of the Southern Nevada team with Kerri Clark. “We were tied for the lead after the first day and we think that’s the first time the Southern Nevada team has ever led after any round.
“It was definitely a tough course. Walking it is crazy hard and it played long. But the girls really hung in there and played solid.”
Dutt-Roberts and Clark were a part of the 1980 team that finished second, the best finish prior to this year. Clark finished second in the individual race that year and is a Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame inductee.
Corey Lopez, of team champion Mexico, won the individual title with scores of 70-70-72—212. Serena Sepersky of SoCal was runnerup, just one shot behind.
BOYS
The Colorado squad edged the Mexico 1 team by a single stroke to win the 2018 Junior America’s Cup. The event was held July 24-26 at the Fairmont Hot Springs Resort and Golf Course in Anaconda, Mont.
The Nevada squad wound up 18th with a total of 688. The Nevada team was comprised of Cameron Gambini, 70-71-75—216; Jacob Zerby, 76-73-84—233; Michael Salerno, 77-79-84—240 and Sean Sear, 77-81-83—241.
Colorado posted a three-day total of 622 while Mexico 1 had 623. Third went to Utah at 625.
