Coaches Report by Matt Hunton.
The Portales Rams boys golf team has been busy this last week. We have played in three tournaments placing first in each one.
Lovington
Tuesday April 25 the boys hit the links in Lovington taking on that golf course in 40 MPH winds with gusts well over 50. The boys stayed focused and fought hard through the wind. Playing in that much wind is very mentally and physically draining. That didn’t stop the PHS boys from finishing in first place with a team score of 334 beating Carlsbad (348) and Artesia (349). Thomas Tulk led the way with an 82 followed by sophomore Talon Payne’s 83. Our final two scores to get the 334 were senior Andrew Underbrink’s 84 and junior Austin Davis’ 85. These scores were extremely good under these circumstances and I think that shows in the team scores.
Tuesday April 25 the boys hit the links in Lovington taking on that golf course in 40 MPH winds with gusts well over 50. The boys stayed focused and fought hard through the wind. Playing in that much wind is very mentally and physically draining. That didn’t stop the PHS boys from finishing in first place with a team score of 334 beating Carlsbad (348) and Artesia (349). Thomas Tulk led the way with an 82 followed by sophomore Talon Payne’s 83. Our final two scores to get the 334 were senior Andrew Underbrink’s 84 and junior Austin Davis’ 85. These scores were extremely good under these circumstances and I think that shows in the team scores.
NMMI
Thursday April 27 we were in Roswell to play at the New Mexico Military Institute golf course where we shot our best score of the season. Thomas Tulk didn’t hit the ball as well has he has been, but his ability to get around the golf course and score well while hitting the ball poorly is one thing that makes him a great golfer. We had four of our players shoot in the 70s and one hit the number 80. Thomas and Andrew both shot 75. Austin and Mario both shot 76 and Talon shot an 80. This made our team total 302 beating out Carlsbad by one shot (303). This tournament also gave us three individual qualifiers for the state tournament and left Talon Payne short by one leg. This isn’t important for the state competition as we have qualified as a team, but it is a goal of each of the kids every year. Job well done!
Thursday April 27 we were in Roswell to play at the New Mexico Military Institute golf course where we shot our best score of the season. Thomas Tulk didn’t hit the ball as well has he has been, but his ability to get around the golf course and score well while hitting the ball poorly is one thing that makes him a great golfer. We had four of our players shoot in the 70s and one hit the number 80. Thomas and Andrew both shot 75. Austin and Mario both shot 76 and Talon shot an 80. This made our team total 302 beating out Carlsbad by one shot (303). This tournament also gave us three individual qualifiers for the state tournament and left Talon Payne short by one leg. This isn’t important for the state competition as we have qualified as a team, but it is a goal of each of the kids every year. Job well done!
The Links at Sierra Blanca
Monday May 1 we had our district tournament at the Links golf course in Ruidoso. The boys set out to win district in the 7 team field. The boys golf district consists of Portales, Hope Christian, Ruidoso, Dexter, Jal, NMMI, and Tucumcari. Our team worked hard on a nice and sunny day in the mountains. While we started slow they never quit. Thomas finished three under on his last four holes to shoot a tournament best 71 and win the individual honors at district. Austin Davis played extremely well with a steady round of 74 finishing second in district and posting his season best score. Mario Cordova had a couple “trouble holes” at this golf course that he conquered this time around giving him a 78 and a tie for fifth place. Talon Payne rounded out the team scoring with an 86 giving our team a total of 309 beating Hope Christian (314) by five shots.
Monday May 1 we had our district tournament at the Links golf course in Ruidoso. The boys set out to win district in the 7 team field. The boys golf district consists of Portales, Hope Christian, Ruidoso, Dexter, Jal, NMMI, and Tucumcari. Our team worked hard on a nice and sunny day in the mountains. While we started slow they never quit. Thomas finished three under on his last four holes to shoot a tournament best 71 and win the individual honors at district. Austin Davis played extremely well with a steady round of 74 finishing second in district and posting his season best score. Mario Cordova had a couple “trouble holes” at this golf course that he conquered this time around giving him a 78 and a tie for fifth place. Talon Payne rounded out the team scoring with an 86 giving our team a total of 309 beating Hope Christian (314) by five shots.
We aren’t satisfied yet. We have come a long way and have been playing some really good golf at the end of the season. The boys are as mentally tough as I’ve seen them and are swinging the clubs very well. Hope Christian and St. Mike’s are both very good and solid golf teams. We must work hard once we get to Farmington to finish the goal that we started out to complete…bring home the blue trophy.
GO RAMS!
