Lady Cats seeking solid state showing

Clovis High girls golf coach Steve Speck is hoping his team can put it all together in Class 5A state competition, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday at UNM South in Albuquerque.

The Lady Wildcats earned nine legs toward state competition — only three are needed — in 10 regular-season tournaments, and they go into Monday's event looking to improve on an eighth-place team finish from last year.

CMI photo: Tony Bullocks

Clovis High senior Haley Berry watches the flight of her iron shot during Thursday's practice at Colonial Park Golf Course. Berry, the three-time District 4-5A champion, will be making her fourth consecutive trip to Class 5A state competition next week.

"Every girl I have has shot under 90 at one time or another this year, and Haley (Berry) has a 78," Speck said. "If we can play well, we can get in the top three."

Eleven girls teams qualified for state competition while only four boys squads — Hobbs, Las Cruces High, Onate and Rio Rancho Cleveland — made it. The Clovis boys will send three individuals — senior Matt Justus and juniors Frankie Trujillo and Emilio Romero.

For Berry, the three-time District 4-5A champion, it's her fourth consecutive state berth. She is one of four seniors on the five-player squad — joining Kristin Bradley, Kelsey Wornell and Heather Steinle, and junior Victoria Fox.

Bradley has missed the last two meets with shoulder issues, but Speck said she intends to play.

CMI photo: Tony Bullocks

Clovis High senior Matt Justus works on his putting during Thursday's practice at Colonial Park Golf Course. Justus is one of three Wildcats who will compete in next week's Class 5A boys state tournament at UNM South in Albuquerque.

"Anything can happen in a state tournament," Speck said. "Rio Rancho is really good. They shot a 323 at UNM South, which is really, really good for a girls team."

Berry is hoping to go out with a bang after posting an 83 and an eight-stroke win in the district tournament, also played at UNM South last week.

"I just want to play good like I did at district," she said. "I've always had one good day and one bad day (at state), so I want to have two good days. I want to shoot in the 80s both days."

Berry said the Lady Cats are shooting for a top-three team finish, which would earn them a trophy.

"We have the same team this year that we did last year," she said. "Four of the five of us will graduate, so that's what we have such high hopes."

For the boys, it'll be a little different playing as individuals instead of as part of a team. That can be good or bad, Justus said.

"It's a lot different," he said. "It definitely takes a lot of pressure off, not having to play for the team. On the other hand, it's a lot harder to place (individually) than as a team."

Justus is hoping his younger teammates can do well and build for next season.

"I think I'll be competitive individually," he said. "For the other two, I just want them to have good rounds and keep the drive going for next year."

Coach Cal Fullerton said the players will have to just play for themselves after the Cats followed three straight third-place state finishes with a fourth-place showing last year.

"There's only four teams, so there will be quite a lot of individuals," he said. "There's no pressure to save strokes, but at the same time you don't want to put yourself out of the tournament on the first day."