Rams, Lady Rams currently third and fourth in state golf tournament

STAFF WRITER

[email protected]

ROSWELL — The Portales Rams golf teams are off to good starts after Day 1 of the Class 1-4A state tournament at Spring River Golf Course.

The Portales boys shot 319 as a team. They are currently third, 18 shots behind first-place Socorro and four in back of New Mexico Military.

“On Day 1, they all fought hard,” boys coach Matt Hunton said. “The wind picked up and gusted all day. When one of them would have a bad hole they wouldn’t let it get to them. They’d fight back and put a string of good holes together.”

Individually, Thomas Tulk shot a 75 and is currently tied for second place with Socorro’s Ricky Silva, four shots behind leader Brett Anaya of Socorro.

“This is his best round this year competitively,” Hunton said of Tulk. “Over the last 10 days, he’s found his swing that he’s had before the season started. He’s striking the ball well and playing his best golf.”

On the girls’ side, the Lady Rams are in fourth place after shooting a 402 as team. Coach Charity Gomez was satisfied with the first day, but expects more from her team in today’s final round.

“I thought that they did OK,” Gomez said. “We would have loved for everybody to be shooting their best golf today. That just wasn’t the case.”

Senior Bailey Rowley is tied for third place individually with an 85. Sophomore Janae Hale, the other Lady Ram to individually qualify for state, shot a 97.

“Kaitlynne (Underbrink) shot a great round today; she had a 103,” Gomez said. “Bailey had a few unfortunate holes with her putting, but I thought she had a good round.”

Even with the fourth-place sitting, Gomez believes her team can improve in today’s round.

“We still feel that, if they shoot their best golf tomorrow, we will place in the top three,” Gomez said. “That’s just what we’re looking forward to.”