The Pahrump Valley High School girls’ golf team opened its season Thursday, Aug. 20, at Boulder Creek Golf Club, with both Trojan golfers earning individual finishes near the top of the field.
With just two golfers on the roster this season, Pahrump does not have enough players to record a team score in competition. Sophomore Raegan Saldaña and senior Natalie Soto will instead compete individually throughout the season, representing PVHS while working toward individual placements.
Saldaña led the way for the Trojans in the season opener, finishing tied for seventh overall. She completed the round with a score of 102, finishing 30 strokes over par.
The sophomore enters the season with experience on the course after making an impact during her freshman year. Saldaña is in her second season with the PVHS golf program and qualified for the State Championships last year, earning the opportunity to represent the Trojans at the state level as a freshman.
Her seventh-place finish at Boulder Creek gave her a solid starting point as she begins her sophomore campaign and looks to build on the experience gained during her first high school season.
For Soto, Thursday’s match marked the beginning of an entirely new athletic experience at PVHS. The senior spent her first three years of high school playing soccer before deciding to change things up for her final year and make the move to golf.
Despite being new to the sport at the high school level, Soto opened her first season with an individual finish just outside the top 10. She carded a 112 for the round, 40 strokes over par, to take 11th place overall.
Although the Trojans will not factor into the team standings with only two golfers, the season gives Saldaña and Soto plenty to compete for individually. Saldaña will look to build on a freshman season that took her all the way to State, while Soto begins the adventure of competing in a new sport during her senior year.
With both golfers finishing among the top 11 at Boulder Creek, the opening match provided an encouraging start for the Trojans and the beginning of two very different individual journeys on the course this season.
*Photos provided by the team.
