Lady Rams second in Leroy Gooch

RUIDOSO — If the Portales Lady Rams are going to make a run at a Class 3A state championship this spring, they've got their work cut out trying to catch Socorro.

The Lady Warriors proved Monday's first-round 314 score was no fluke, following it up with a 315 on Tuesday at Cree Meadows Golf Course for a 629 total in the Class 1A-3A division of the Leroy Gooch Invitational and a healthy margin over PHS, which finished a distant second at 696 after shooting 354 in the second round.

Todd Fuqua: Ruidoso Free Press

Jackson Powers shot an 87 Tuesday at The Links of Sierra Blanca and finished the two-day tournament at at 175.

PHS senior Tylar Rowley shot an 80 on Tuesday to finish in a tie for third overall with Socorro's Mia Salome at 162. Junior Paige Hartman struggled with a 90 in the second round, but still finished sixth overall at 168, while senior Gabby Espinoza (89 on Tuesday) and eighth-grader Bailey Rowley (98) both placed in the top 15 at 179 and 190, respectively.

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Rounding out team totals were Lovington 724, Ruidoso 738 and Silver 774. Socorro's Shania Berger shot her second consecutive 74 to take medalist honors at 148 over teammate Kristen Cline (155).

The PHS boys finished last in the six-team small-school field at 408-423 — 831. Socorro shot 337 on Tuesday at The Links of Sierra Blanca for a two-day total of 667 and a 10-stroke margin over Ruidoso, followed by Lovington 701, Silver 714, Tucumcari 792 and PHS.

Jordy Nix, who was disqualified on Monday for not playing a ball he thought was out of bounds but wasn't, shot a 102 on Tuesday that did not count toward the team total. Jackson Powers shot an 87 to finish at 175 while Ty Bergman added an 88 and came in at 176 for the tournament.

Other Rams scores included James Idsinga 238 (132 on Tuesday) and Johnathan Randall 242 (116).

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Will Schaffer of Socorro took medalist honors at 152, shooting his second consecutive 76 on Tuesday. He was five stokes ahead of teammate Ricky Silva.