By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
Two Metro-area girls teams and a pair from Harlingen High are ready for golf’s postseason.
Hanna and Brownsville Veterans Memorial, along with Hannah Greer and Morgan McClaugherty of Harlingen High, will compete in the Class 6A girlsgolf regional that begins today and continues through Thursday at Brackenridge Park Golf Course in San Antonio.
Hanna, led by top individual medalist Julie Lucio, won the District 32-6A title, and Brownsville Veterans was the runner up after last week’s district tournament. Greer and McClaugherty were the second-and third-lace individual medalists, respectively, and advance to the regional as individuals.
“If you look at the numbers, I believe there are a couple sub-620 teams and the next best team was about 630,” Hanna coach Adrian Garcia said about the scoring averages of the regional opponents. “We average 620, so we’re going to have to play our average to have a chance. But it all depends on Day 1 and the weather permitting.”
Garcia said Lucio and No. 2 player and team captain Alejandra Rodriguez has experience at Brackenridge, and has each shot in the 70s there. That prior knowledge should help during the two-day tournament.
“Definitely,” Garcia said regarding familiarity to help play the course. (We) just have to have a positive attitude.”
The Golden Eagles’ coach said his team was busy studying the yardages on the course, especially the longer par-3s, to prepare for the tournament.
The Lady Chargers also are familiar with the course. A few girls played in the regional two years ago as freshman and the squad played one month ago during a pre-regional tournament.
Brownsville Veterans coach Jose Zarate said his squad was working on its short game after some deficiencies during its prior play.
“We’ve focused on the bunkers,” he said. “Playing a lot of them, taking shots out of them that gave them trouble the last time.We’re trying to prepare them the best we can, and we’ve emphasized that a lot more.”
Garcia said the course is more similar to courses his girls play often around the Rio Grande Valley , and the Eagles are ready to go.
“Brackenridge (Park) is a little flatter. More like the Valley (courses),” he said. “We’re excited,the girls are anxious and ready to play.”
The Lady Chargers were excited to get back to the regional after a one-year absence.
“We made our goal, so we’re going to see if we can do better than the last time we went,” Zarate said. “We’re going to do the best we can. I want them to play with confidence, have fun and try (their) best.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.