|
Rams 3rd after state first round
Sanchez in second, two strokes off lead
LAS CRUCES — The Portales Ram golfers have set themselves up to fight for the New Mexico Class 3A state championship today at the New Mexico State University Golf Course, but they’ll need to make up 17 strokes on district rival Lovington to do so.
Not an easy task, says Portales boys golf coach Pat Crowley.
“I don’t look for Lovington to come backwards towards us,” Crowley said. “(But) that’s the beauty of team golf. If you spread that out, you’re looking at (having to make up) three to four strokes a man, and that is doable.”
The District 4-3A champion Wildcats shot a combined first-round score of 302, followed by St. Mike’s team score of 309 and Portales’ 319.
While the team faces an uphill battle for the blue trophy, one Ram golfer is in position to fight for the individual state title.
Portales junior Donavin Sanchez fired the second best overall score with a two over-par 74. Sanchez trails only Lovington’s Mark Woods who carded an even-par 72.
William Archibeque shot Portales’ second best score of five over-par 77, followed by fellow junior Rick Bergman’s 82. Tristan Cottrell shot an 87 and fellow freshman Dennis Short carded a 99.
Cottrell finished strong in his round of 87 with an eagle and a birdie on hole 17 and 18.
“We had some uncharacteristically bad shots that were relatively easy shots. I’m fixing to talk to the team now,” Crowley said. “We’re not going to be satisfied with second (place).”
All Rams get started in today’s state tournament final round at around 10 a.m.
“One of our goals of the day was to stay in that last grouping, and we did that. We played with both of those teams today, we’ve seen them throughout the season,” Crowley said. “They can play with those guys, and they know they can.”
Portales Ram state first-round
Monday, NMSU
Donavin Sanchez 74
William Archibeque 77
Rick Bergman 82
Tristan Cottrell 87
Dennis Short 99
Tuesday tee times
Short 9:40
Cottrell 9:50
Bergman 10:00
Archibeque 10:15
Sanchez 10:20
