Faith Lutheran senior Maddie Perez set a Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association record for the lowest two-round score in a state-sanctioned tournament, firing a 13-under 131 to capture her second consecutive Class 5A Southern Region individual title by nine strokes. The UNLV commit's performance anchored the Crusaders to the team championship with a two-day total of 2-under 574, edging five-time defending state champion Coronado by a single stroke. Bishop Gorman finished third at 4-over 580 to claim the final Southern qualifying spot for next week's state tournament in Reno.
"Just absolutely incredible," Faith Lutheran coach Mike Kruse said. "She is such a skilled golfer. She's such a great leader. She's such a great teammate and for all the hard work that she puts into this game, for it to pay off for her, it's just amazing. ... She's going to do wonders for (UNLV) as well." Perez said she was unaware she had broken the previous mark of 12-under set by Coronado's Brynn Kort at the 2022 state tournament, calling the achievement "cool" and "such an honor."
The Crusaders entered Thursday's final round with a six-stroke lead after shooting 1-over 289 on Wednesday. Coronado rallied with a 12-under team score on the second day to make it close, but Faith Lutheran held on behind Perez's 7-under 65 and a career-best 3-under 69 from Paviah Mardiossian. Kruse noted Mardiossian had never previously shot better than 75 in her high school career.
"For the team, it's been so long since our team has won this, and especially since my freshman year when we couldn't qualify (for state) as a team, it's so exciting," said Perez, who won the 2024 5A state individual title and was the runner-up in 2023. The 5A state tournament begins Monday at Wolf Run Golf Course in Reno, with the second round Tuesday at LakeRidge Golf Course.
Sources: Las Vegas Review-Journal
Original reporting: Las Vegas Review-Journal →
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