Portales Boys Golf ends up Season with Championship

Coaches Report by Matt Hunton

Portales Ram golf team finished up our season at Pinon Hills in Farmington, New Mexico Monday and Tuesday, although Tuesday never took place. The two day event was shortened to one day due to rain, hail, and lightning on Tuesday. We played well enough the first day to bring home a co-championship with Hope Christian after both teams shot a 313 on Monday.

Thomas Tulk led the way shooting an impressive 4-under par 68 Monday giving him his second straight state individual championship. The team scoring rounded out with Andrew Underbrink shooting an 80, Talon Payne 82, Austin Davis 83, and Mario Cordova 93.

We started off very slow on Monday, but the team never quit. They grinded for 18 holes on a very difficult golf course. Pinion Hills is definitely a challenge and very tough physically to walk going up and down hills with long distances between greens and tee boxes. I was so proud of how the boys never quit and brought home the blue trophy.

The first place finish is the first ever state championship for the PHS boys golf team.

The season was definitely a success. The boys brought home six first place (including district and state), one second place, and two fourth place finishes.

I knew we had a lot of talent coming in to this season. I knew we had a chance to win the state tournament, but the way in which the boys played and racked up wins all season was a great sense of accomplishment. This is why we work and practice so hard. I have had the pleasure of working with three of the varsity players for all four years that I’ve been coaching and they have worked so hard to bring home the trophy. The addition of Thomas Tulk three years ago and Talon Payne just this year as made this group of boys a great bunch to work with. I am honored to have been their coach.