Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
ALBUQUERQUE – Texico’s girls and Clovis Christian’s boys were both second heading into Tuesday’s final round of Class 1-3A state golf at Canyon Club at Four Hills, and understandably playing for second place.
The Lady Wolverines were able to hang on to their standing while the Eagles were caught at the wire by Socorro.
Texico, which entered the second round with a 29-shot lead over third-place St. Michael’s, pulled away from the Lady Horsemen with a 434 score to finish at 883, a 42-stroke margin.
Socorro was in command after Monday’s first 18 holes and tallied 394-401 – 795 to coast to the title.
“Socorro’s really strong,” Texico coach Bob Gilbreath said of the three-time state small-school champions. “They have some senior girls with a lot of experience.”
Junior Liz Elam medaled for the Lady Wolverines, shooting 101-101 – 202 for fifth place, with Socorro’s Tivonne Anaya taking individual honors at 91-91 – 182. Sophomore Sophie Schaap just missed medaling for the Lady Wolverines, shooting 104-103 – 207 to place seventh.
Gilbreath said Canyon Club was tougher than any course his team has seen this spring.
“Sophie played really well,” he said. “Sophie can hit the ball a lot farther than some of the girls, and that played to her advantage. Liz is just more accurate.”
Meantime, CCS and Mesilla Valley were poised to go 1-2 for the third consecutive year after the Eagles captured the 1-3A crown in 2021 and the Las Cruces-based SonBlazers returned the favor last spring.
CCS was second, 40 shots behind Mesilla Valley after Monday’s play but seven shots in front of Socorro. The Warriors, though, posted a 349 total to Clovis Christian’s 358 on Tuesday to slip ahead of the Eagles (710-712).
“It wasn’t much different than (Monday),” CCS coach Trent McKay said. “Socorro was just a little better.”
Mesilla Valley shot a four-man score of 319 on Tuesday to finish 77 strokes ahead of Socorro at 633. The SonBlazers had the top three medalists, led by senior Logan Morris at 74-80 – 154 and his younger brother, Riley (77-78 – 155), and posted five of the top eight 36-hole scores in the tournament.
Junior Noah McKay, the coach’s son, finished seventh individually, shooting 44-42 – 86 on Tuesday for a two-day total of 170. Senior Carter Teune (89-90 – 179) tied for 11th while senior Austin Lingnau (90-90 – 180) came in 13th.
Junior Kaprix Foote represented the CCS girls at state for the second consecutive year, shooting 63-67 – 130 on Tuesday to finish at 261.
Class 5A – At Twin Warriors Golf Club in Bernalillo, Clovis High senior Jolei Adkins shot 47-44 – 88 on Tuesday, ending the two-day event at 176 for 17th place individually for the Lady Wildcats.
La Cueva shot 328 on Tuesday to finish at 651 and five strokes ahead of Centennial. Piedra Vista was a distant third at 352-348 – 700.
Centennial had the girls’ individual medalist as Alex Armendariz finishing the event at even-par 144, with rounds of 73 and 71. She rallied to edge first-day leader Annie Yost of Piedra Vista (69-76 – 145) by one shot.
Clovis’ other representative at state, junior Jett Stone for the boys, knocked seven shots off his first day score with a 41-43 – 84 for a two-day total of 175.
“He could’ve played a little better here and there, but I was proud of how he played,” CHS boys coach Dale Fullerton said.
La Cueva, led by Jake Yrene’s 69-70 – 139, five under par, cruised to the boys’ team title at 313-310 – 623. Volcano Vista (326-316 – 642) was second.
Yrene also won comfortably, finished 10 strokes ahead of Piedra Vista’s Sebastian Massey (76-73 – 149).
Class 4A – At Santa Ana Golf Club in Bernalillo, Portales High’s lone representative, junior Paige Yazzie, ended at 205 after shooting 50-50 – 100 on Tuesday.
Albuquerque Academy pulled away on Day 2 to beat St. Pius 683-691 after they were tied for second on Monday. First-day leader Belen (341-351 – 692) finished a close third, just ahead of Deming (346-347 -693).
Deming, though, did take the boys’ team title at 294-293 – 587, easily the best team score in any of the three tournaments. St. Pius had the second-best tally at 302-304 – 606, but had the misfortune of trying to keep up with the Wildcats and settled for a runnerup finish.
Deming’s Vari Mariscal took individual honors in a tight battle, shooting five-under 67 on Tuesday for a two-day total of 140 and a one-shot margin over Belen’s Grady Cox.
