Boys golf: After surprise state title, Manogue keeps rolling

There was a seismic shift in Nevada high school golf on May 15, 2013. And it's a change that could be felt for many years to come.

That was the day the Bishop Manogue boys team put together a remarkable, improbable, final-day round for the ages to come back from a distant fourth place and pass three Las Vegas-area teams to win the Division I state title. It was — and will remain so for many years to come — one of the greatest comebacks in any team sport in the history of Nevada high school competition.

The Miners' comeback would have been stunning enough had it been six senior golfers pulling together to claim a dramatic win on their final day of high school competition. But it's actually the opposite that's the case: Not one member of that 2013 state-title team was a senior, and all six players are back on the roster in search of more regional- and state-tournament glory.

That group, along with the rest of the Miners' 12-deep roster, picked up right where it left off during the early stages of the 2014 regular season. Manogue has pummeled the competition in its two Sierra League tournaments, posting a 377 total score to win the season opener at Wolf Run by 47 strokes over second-place Galena and following up with a 384 at Eagle Valley West to outdistance runner-up Carson by 30 strokes.

It's the golf equivalent of baseball's 10-run rule or a running clock in the second half of a football game. Playing with the confidence of a team that feels it will compete for a second straight state title, the Miners are simply overwhelming the opposition.

"After state last year, we talked about it, and we knew we were going to have a target on our backs all year," junior Stephen Osborne said. "But as soon as practice opened, we've been out here 2-3 hours a day, five days a week, pretty much no matter what … so I definitely think we've put in the hours to be doing what we're doing out there in these first couple tournaments."

The Manogue roster has the sort of loose, easy-going camaraderie that comes from the players knowing each other for many years. Many of the players have a long association with head coach Chris Trevino through his Trevino Golf Institute in Reno, making Trevino's transition to high school coach three years ago — he says he's finally getting used to "wearing two hats" — all the easier.

"This (a state title) was something that was kind of brewing," Trevino said. "I've known the entire lineup since they were 12 and 13 years old … and that natural maturing process from 12 to 15-16 years old, that's how long it does take to produce that kind of golf.

"To have these kids peaking at what seems a young age, it's really not quite as young as you think. They've been training pretty hard on an individual basis, and then to have all that talent on one team is just an amazing thing to have."

In its Sierra League meetings this season, the Miners have been led twice by junior Harrison Holetz, who finished with a 70 in both outings. Juniors Nick Turner (73 and 74) and Osborne (79-75) and senior Jens Verhey (75-80), a Notre Dame signee, have rounded out a solid top four. Junior Karl Beidle and sophomore Michael Bove are the other returnees from last season's state-championship team.

"Coming off that state win last year, I think we knew pretty well that we were going to have some pretty good starts," Holetz, the 2013 Division I North individual medalist, said. "I think (the state title) carries over a lot. We've grown as a team since last year, and we have the same guys."

Manogue will look to continue its early-season momentum Monday when it will serve as the host team for a Sierra League tournament at LakeRidge Golf Course, the Miners' home and practice course. Another month of regular-season events will set the stage for the Division I North Region tournament at Thunder Canyon (May 12 and 13) and the D-I state tournament at Mountain Falls in Pahrump (May 21-22).

Manogue will enter both events as the defending champion. And the feeling amongst the team is that there are no limits to what the 2014 roster can accomplish. The Miners' second-day comeback at state last year produced a total team score of 24-over-par for two days. Trevino has his team focusing on not only another championship, but also an improved team total.

"What I'd like to see is an under-par golf team," Trevino said. "For five kids to shoot under par, it's a very impressive thing. But in my opinion, it's a very doable thing. The goal for us is anything in that 5-under to 5-over range. That's something we have to find a way to achieve in the next six weeks as we're practicing and getting ready for state."

MINERS' MAJOR COMEBACK

After the first day of the 2013 Division I state tournament, Manogue sat in fourth place, 19 shots behind leader Foothill.

But a state-record 5-under 350 total on the second day rocketed the Miners to the top of the final team standings. Manogue passed three D-I South teams — Foothill, Coronado and Bishop Gorman — to claim its improbable championship.

Nick Turner's personal-best 65 highlighted the Miners' day. Manogue also got a 69 from Division I North champion Harrison Holetz and a 70 from Jens Verhey. Michael Bove (71) and Stephen Osborne (75) also improved their first-day scores.

— Duke Ritenhouse, RGJ