RENO, Nev. – The North Tahoe High School boys golf team are heading to the State Championships after besting Incline High School by 11 strokes to cinch the 2A NIAA West Regional Championship at The Club at Arrowcreek on Monday, May 5.

“I was extremely proud of the team today,” head coach Kirsten Harris said. “They showed up, hit the ball well and played really smart golf on a course that requires a lot of strategy.”

Individually, the Lakers again displayed a dominant performance with all three seniors earning medals. Senior Nolan Smith tied with Incline’s Sam Lager at 74 strokes, losing in a scorecard playoff for second place. Senior Ty Whisler tied against Sierra Lutheran’s Oliver Pomerleau with 75 strokes and also competed in a scorecard playoff. Whisler won the playoff, earning third place. Senior Ian Bower finished fifth at 82.

Sophomore Trace Gensburg rounded out the team score with an 89, finishing 10th individually. Freshmen Braden Basile and Colt Pata both shot season bests of 99 and 101, respectively, which put them in the top half of the field.

The Lakers’ Regional Championship win sends them to the State Championship at The Club at Sunrise in Las Vegas Tuesday and Wednesday May, 13-14.

“We are really looking forward to State [Championships] next week,” Harris said, “and returning to [the] Las Vegas area where the team won their first state championship four years ago.”

The team has won every year since and a win this year would make it the Lakers’ fourth consecutive 2A NIAA State Championship.