The South Tahoe High girls golf team experienced a series of highs and lows Tuesday during the Nevada 4A zone championships at Eagle Valley Golf Course in Carson City.

Yes, their bus ride from the lake to the valley was one high to low, but the big roller-coaster ride came later in the day as the girls began to finish their rounds, realizing they had a shot at qualifying for next week’s state tournament.

Unfortunately the Carson Senators, who led the Vikings by four shots going into the day’s action, carded great scores and were able to hold off the Vikings by 10 strokes for the third-and-final spot to state.

“It was really an emotional day,” Viking coach Marsha Butler said. “The girls went from euphoria to crying.”

The Vikings finished the two-day event in fourth with a combined score of 1,037. Carson edged them out with a 1,027, while Galena and Fallon claimed the other two state berths with 908 and 1,014, respectively.

The Vikings were looking good as their first golfers were coming off the course.

Samantha Urich cut seven strokes off her opening-round score, posting a 125, while fifth-seeded Jacy Gleave shaved off five for a 102. Fourth-seeded Holly Young dropped five strokes for a 111 and Kylie Novasel shot 11 strokes better than the day before with a 102.

“We really thought we had it,” Butler said. “Jacy and Holly got their best scores of the year.”

While Dee Dee Crist and Kalotina Monos both came in with great scores of 98, Carson shot really well on its home course and were able to keep its distance between the surging Vikings.

“The girls have a lot to be proud of,” Butler said. “We came up four spots from last year’s tournament to fourth place … a solid fourth place.”

While the team will not be making the trip to Black Mountain Golf Course in Henderson for state, Monos’ rounds of 92 and 98 were good enough to earn her a trip.

“I’m really excited to compete at state and be exposed to that level of competition,” Monos said. “But it really won’t be the same because my team won’t be there with me.”

In a sport that is really all about individual effort, you would never know it talking to this group of Vikings who have gelled as a unit.

“I’ve seen so much progress this year,” Monos said. “Not only in our play, but in our friendships as well.”

Coach Butler agreed.

“For playing in an individual sport, I was really proud of how the girls came together as a team this year,” Butler said. “From beginning to end, we surpassed all of our goals.”

While Monos will try and carry on the torch that was lit by the entire team this year when she competes at state, everyone knows the future for this young team, who only lose one golfer to graduation this year, is bright.

“Next year we only lose one senior, so we might have a really good chance,” Butler said.

Monos echoed her coach.

“We have a lot of fun. We’re like a big family,” she said. “I don’t think we really knew our potential at the beginning of the season, but now we know and next year we’ll be a lot better … we know we can do it.”