Carson third in its own invitational

After a strong showing on Wednesday, the Carson High golf team is in great position to win its own tournament today.

The Senators, thanks to 2-over par 74s on Eagle Valley East by J.T. Cockerill and Jimmy Potter, carded a 381 which was good enough for a tie for third with Nevada Union of Grass Valley Calif.

Carson trails first-round leader Fallon (373) by eight strokes and second-place Eureka (379) by two shots. Fallon's Scott Smith and Eureka's Wayne Hicks tied for medalist honors with 71s.

The second round starts today at 8:30 a.m. on the tougher West course, and Carson coach Rod Butler likes his team's chances to move up.

"I'm pleased with our score," Butler said. "We played pretty good for the first day. I'm surprised Matt (Mitchell) shot what he did (89). We're eight shots behind. We have to be somewhere in the 370s. Eight shots is a lot. Fallon's score might go up a little bit.

"The scores were about what I figured. Fallon didn't shoot as low as it did in the High Desert tournament, but they still put up a good score."

Carson is hoping for that home course advantage today, and with the weather expected to be cool and windy, course knowledge may come in handy.

"We know the West course," Cockerill said. "We play there all the time. We should be able to come back."

"If everybody shoots in the 70s, or we have maybe have one in the 80s we can do it," Potter said. "It (the West course) is a completely different side. It will be cold and windy."

Potter's round was impressive considering it was his first match of the season. He started the season late, and finally got the required amount of practices in before being allowed to play in a match.

The junior shot 34 on the back (his front nine) with birdies at the 10th, 14th and 16th holes.

On the short par-5 10th, Potter drove the ball down the middle of the fairway, hit an 8-iron just over the green, chipped to within 2 feet and drained the putt. On No. 14, a par-5, Potter hit a 300-yard drive, and followed with a low 5-wood just short of the green. He chipped up to about 15 feet and knocked in a big-breaking putt for the birdie. On the par-4 16th, Potter hit a 3-wood off the tee and drilled an 8-iron to with 4 feet and sank the putt.

Potter would rather forget his 40 on the front side, which included a four-putt on one hole and a missed 2-foot par putt on No. 9.

"It was putting," Potter said. "There were a lot of little bumps on the green. It was like putting over a little mountain."

Cockerill was a picture of consistency, as he carded just one birdie on the par-5 14th when he got up and down from behind the green.

"I made a lot of pars," Cockerill said. "I just played real solid. I had a lot of tap-in pars. The greens weren't too good. It was nice that I didn't have any long par putts."

Cockerill saved par with 5-foot putts on the 15th, 17th and 18th holes.

Tyson Roser finished with a 75, and Kyle Winter and Kyle Bacon each shot a 79 to round out the Carson scoring.

Carson's second squad shot a respectable 419, as Brice Crook led the way with an 81, Steve Hein carded an 82 and Isaac Holt finished with an 83.

Darrell Moody can be reached at dmoody@nevadaappeal.com, or by calling (775) 881-1281