LA FERIA — Austin’s Onion creek golf club is on every Texas 4A high school golfer’s mind at this time of the year.
The historic golf club that was founded in 1974 will be the host to this year’s 4A state tournament. However to get to the state tourney you can’t forget about regionals, and that’s exactly the place Isabel Prado and Celica Quintana know quite well.
The Region IV-4A tournament still lives vividly on Quintana’s mind. Two years ago as a sophomore while sitting in the third and final spot that would have taken her to state, a competitor from Cuero came in and knocked the now-senior down to fourth place.
This year Quintana has been focused and playing to her potential, getting first place at the Hidalgo tournament, Progreso tournament and at the 32-4A pre-district tourney. At district the senior was even with teammate Isabel Prado at 89 but won on a tie breaker.
“Two years ago she was heartbroken and last year she gave it a good effort at regionals too,” said La Feria head coach David Briones. “Celica is more serious and when she messes up she has a harder time getting over it, completely opposite of her sophomore counterpart.”
Isabel Prado is a name many have heard around the Valley golfing world. Last year as a freshman, Prado missed the state tournament by four strokes. This year the sophomore won the Falfurrias tournament and placed fifth at pre-regionals shooting an 84 against some of the toughest girls in the state.
“Last year I didn’t practice as often as I should have,” said Prado. “I was in tennis and a lot of those sports, but this year I realized that if I want a golf scholarship I need to focus and get my head in the game. Now more people are taking it seriously and I need to take it more seriously so I can be up there with them, too.”
And coach Briones agrees.
“She’s been working harder this year and noticed a difference in her work ethic,” said coach Briones of Prado. “She wants it more now. Last year she was a freshman and this year she’s getting it figured out.
“She not a serious person when she’s out there, but she plays better when she is out there having fun. She’s at her best when she’s laughing and joking around not when she’s concentrated and serious about it.”
At this year’s regional tournament Prado has been grouped with last year’s defending 3A state champion Shawnee Allen from La Vernia.
Another Lion making the trip to regionals this year is Carlos Garcia. Shooting a score of 93 in district, the sophomore qualified for regionals as the second medalist. Garcia, a transfer from Mercedes, played as a freshman but missed the regional tournament last year.
“I’m excited that I made it but at the same time I’m nervous and I don’t want to mess up,” said Garcia. “I just want to make it as far as I can.”
This year’s regional girls’ tournament will be held at Oso Golf Club in Corpus Christi. Meanwhile, the Lozano Golf Course in Corpus Christi will host the boys’ tournament.