Eagles take boys title in Wildcat Invite tournament

CLOVIS – Weather conditions were more suited for maybe mid-March than late April in Clovis High’s Wildcat Invitational on Monday at Colonial Park Golf Course, and hardly anyone was really satisfied with how it went.

Clovis Christian boys coach Trent McKay said the Eagles were a bit off their game overall, even though they shot a four-man total of 350 for an 11-stroke margin over Clovis High. The Wildcats, meantime, edged Alamogordo and Roswell High by a stroke in the battle for second place.

“We won, but we didn’t play very well,” McKay said. “It’s kind of hard to judge, playing in these conditions.”

McKay’s son, Noah, was second medalist for the day, shooting 38-42 – 80. He had a chance for the top spot, but made double-bogey on his final hole to finish one stroke behind Roswell High junior Bowen Jones.

“I definitely had a great start,” said Noah McKay, a junior at CCS who was 11th in last year’s Class 1-3A state meet. “It wasn’t terrible. I just didn’t play as great as I could have.”

He’s hoping to prepare himself for a higher finish in this year’s state event at Canyon Club in Albuquerque.

“I just want to play as well as I can,” he said. “Wherever I finish is where I end up.”

No one else shot better than 86 for the Eagles.

“It’s the worst (team) score we’ve ever had at Colonial, but the weather wasn’t good,” Trent McKay said.

The temperature was in the high 40s when play started in the morning with a light mist. The precipitation went away about the middle of the round.

Roswell Goddard took the girls title at 328, while the Lady Wildcats were second at 334.

Senior Jett Stone led the CHS boys, shooting 42-40 – 82, but the Cats had no one else under 90.

“Jett played pretty good today,” Clovis boys coach Dale Fullerton said. “The weather was rainy and cold, but I expected us to play a little better on our home course.”

For the Lady Cats, senior Jolei Adams finished third at 36-42 – 78, five shots behind Corynn Spear of Alamo. It was her best round this year, but she said she struggled early, playing the back nine first.

“I just couldn’t get any grip,” she said. “I don’t think the weather was a factor. I think my balance was just off a little bit.”

Lady Cats coach Abran Briseno said his squad is hoping to be able to qualify its team for next month’s Class 5A state tournament at Twin Warriors Golf Course in Albuquerque. Eight teams qualify, including three at-large berths.

“We’ll have to beat Hobbs to win our district,” Briseno said. “I think everybody will have to focus on playing well these last two tournaments.”

Adkins, who was 21st individually last year at state, said she thinks the Lady Cats may be peaking at the right time.

“Every girl right now is PR-ing (setting personal bests),” she said. “I think it’s a confidence thing. It’s a perfect time for us to be shooting our best.”

Texico, led by junior Liz Elam at 38-46 – 84, was fourth on the girls side at 399 while Portales fifth at 426.

“The front nine (back nine for her) was a little rough,” said Elam, who was eighth in Class 1-3A state competition last spring and is currently ranked No. 1. “The mist affected me, for sure.”

She said she doesn’t want to get ahead of herself and is trying to take things in stride as the season winds down.

“I really just want to play my game,” she said. “I don’t want to put any pressure on myself.”