Rams repeat as boys A-4A state golf champs

ALBUQUERQUE — Portales boys golf successfully defended its A-4A state title on Tuesday at Four Hills Country Club. But this year, the Rams got a chance to win it.

Portales defeated Hope Christian by a single stroke — 692-693 — a year after the two teams both took home a blue trophy when the second day got rained out.

The Rams had three of their golfers finish in the top 10 amongst individual results.

"Last year we were co-champions with Hope Christian, so this one is a little sweeter," Rams coach Matt Hunton said. "We were able to settle this one on the course. The boys did great today — it was a back and forth battle all day long.

"We were up two (strokes) after nine (holes), and it was obviously very close down the stretch. The No. 1 from Hope (Jacob Lucero) was playing really well, and it came down to the end. We ended up winning by one."

Hunton said that after Nate Cota finished his round of 97, the Rams trailed by four strokes. Valen Low's round of 84 then put Portales back ahead by six strokes, before Talon Payne's up and down out of the trap on 18 increased the Ram lead to seven strokes. In the end, despite Lucero's round of 77, Portales hung on to win, 692 to 693 over Hope.

Robertson and Socorro, meanwhile, placed in third and fourth respectively, with two-day scores of 707 and 737. Individually-speaking, the aforementioned Lucero finished second overall with a two-day score of 155, three strokes off of winner Josh Fambro (152) from Taos. Rounding out the top five was Jake Butkiewicz (Ruidoso, 159), Alexander Moores (Cottonwood Classical, 160) and Noah Gonzales (Robertson, 161).

However, for Portales to win the overall title, consistency across the board was key. While no Rams placed in the top five in individual scores, three Portales golfers finished in the next five spots.

Austin Davis led the way with a seventh-place 164, Low was eighth with a 165 and Payne was 10th with a 170. Cota (193, tied-22nd) and Kenevan Bailey (234, 26th), meanwhile, rounded out the Portales scoring.

On the girls side, Portales senior Janae Hale placed in sixth overall, after a two-day score of 186. Hale shot a 92 in Round 1 on Monday, and followed that up with a 94 in Round 2 on Tuesday.

Hale ultimately finished 36 shots shy of a state title, which went to Ruidoso's Alexandra Michelena (158). Carisa Padilla (St. Mike's, 171), Chelsea Medina (Silver, 172), Miquela Martinez (St. Mike's, 180) and Aubry Anaya (Socorro, 184) round out the top five.

As for team scoring, St. Mike's (809) claimed the A-4A girls title, followed by Hope Christian (816), Ruidoso (834), Socorro (838), Mesilla Valley (866), Texico (871) and Taos (899).

"I was really proud of Janae. She wasn't hitting the ball great, but she never quit," Hunton explained. "I knew the course was playing difficult, so I knew she had a chance at a medal.

"She finished well and hung in there for a sixth-placed medal. It was a great day for her to finish her high school career. This was my first year coaching girls golf, and it was a lot of fun. (Janae and freshman Kinzie Davis) put in a lot of work and did really well."

Overall, it was yet another hugely successful season for Hunton and company. For Hunton, he describes this year as being "a lot of fun," as he believes his golfers made vast improvements over the course of the season.

"It was great to win district and state in back-to-back years," Hunton said. "Both boys and girls worked hard, and the hard work paid off. I started coaching Austin and Janae when they were eighth-graders. Great memories watching them grow as golfers."