The High Desert League girls golf season could not have started much better for the Spanish Springs Cougars. The SSHS squad posted a 348 team total to easily win the HDL’s first tournament of the fall season.

Spanish Springs was not even challenged at RedHawk Golf Club, it’s home course. The Cougars beat second-place McQueen (386) by 38 strokes. All four of the Cougars’ counting scores finished in the top six.

Christina Kralich, who transferred into Spanish S[rings from Elko for her senior year, carded a round of 81 to tie for first place. She shared the individual medalist honors with McQueen’s Kelsey Roberts.

“Christina was really consistent all day,” Spanish Springs coach Victor Sherbondy said. “She did nothing to inflate her scores. Bogey was her worst number today. She left a few shots out there or she would’ve gone lower. With a little more work, I think she can get there.”

The modest Kralich was a little more reserved about her play.

“I think I can do better at everything,” she said. “I left a lot of shots out there. My putting didn’t help, but my iron play was good. I put it on the green in two.”

Spanish Springs had the third and fourth best scores on the day as well. Those went to seniors Genesee Roberts and Tess Jones, who turned in scores of 86 and 87 respectively. SSHS junior Devan Gaddis comprised the final player in the Cougars’ scoring contingent. She posted a 94, good for sixth overall.

“The playing conditions were great,” Sherbondy said. “It was just great weather. There was no wind. If anything could have pushed the scores up it would have been the heat but that was pretty minimal. It was just a really nice day.”

Spanish Springs threw out the scores of Stephanie King (105) and Rochelle Mikkelson (120).

Of the six HDL schools, only four fielded complete teams. Hug did not even have a single player in the field and North Valleys had just one. Reed finished fourth in the team standings with a 405.

Jocelyn Motter and Nicole Echeto both turned in scores of 99. Carlee Payne had a 100 and Andi Lee managed a 107 to make up the Raiders’ scoring foursome. Reed did not count the scores of Bryanna Peck (123) and Amanda Vranken (125).

“The girls have been playing a lot this summer, more than they ever have,” Reed coach Danielle Fleiner said. “So we were a little disappointed about where we ended up. We had individuals have good nines, but we couldn’t put 18 holes together. We have to stick with it and finish.”

Both Spanish Springs and Reed will compete in next week’s HDL tournament at Washoe Golf Course in Reno. Tee times start at noon Tuesday for the event.