Wildcats unable to move up from fifth

RUIDOSO — The Clovis High boys golf team couldn't move up in the standings Tuesday in the Class 4A-5A portion of the Leroy Gooch Invitational, but the Wildcats did manage to earn their third leg to qualify for state competition next month in Las Cruces.

Ruidoso Free Press: Todd Fuqua

Junior Sam Bridgwater shot an 84 Tuesday at the Links of Sierra Blanaca in Ruidodo.

CHS improved by seven shots to 315 in the second round of the event, played Tuesday at the Links of Sierra Blanca Golf Course, but the Cats remained fifth in the 12-team field at 637. District 4-5A rival Hobbs shot a 302 on Tuesday to finish at 600 and win it by five shots over Onate.

"It was kind of like yesterday," Cats coach Cal Fullerton said. "Everyone gave away a couple of shots.

"They all hit it pretty well (off the tee), but we didn't putt that well."

The CHS girls, meantime, moved up one spot to fourth, shooting a team score of 383 for a two-day total of 757. Deming, which led by nearly 30 strokes after Monday's first round, cruised to the team title at 679 with Alamogordo second at 713.

Clovis senior Ethan Peterson followed up Monday's 72 with a 36-37 — 73 on Tuesday and finished in a tie with Onate's Isaac Merry for third place at 145, one stroke behind Kenneth Fadke of Hobbs. Deming's Derek Baeza was the individual medalist at 69-70 — 139.

Clovis senior Turner Ham shot 38-40 — 78 to earn his first state leg and he finished in a tie for 20th overall with Hobbs' Jeremiah Hernandez at 160.

Ruidoso Free Press: Todd Fuqua

Clovis' Frankie Trujillo shot a 97 Tuesday at the Lins at Sierra Blanca in Ruidoso.

Junior Haley Berry led the Lady Cats on Tuesday at Cree Meadows Golf Course with round of 88, finishing in a tie for ninth overall at 180. Junior Kelsey Wornell shot 91 in the second round and earned a piece of a three-way tie for 13th at 191.

First-day leader Darian Zachek of Deming was the individual medalist at 68-75 — 143, four shots ahead of Alamogordo's Kacey Dalpes.