DAVE FAVILA | Staff Writer
The Raymondville boys golf team took Howling Trails Golf Course in Mission by storm Tuesday at the District 32-4A tournament, capturing their second consecutive district championship.
Last year the team won the District 31-3A team title under longtime coach Frank Cantu, who is now Raymondville’s athletic director.
But despite the stiffer competition found in District 32-4A and a new coach, the Bearkats didn’t miss a beat and are headed back to regionals in Corpus Christi next week.
“You can’t help but be nervous when you have inherited a golf team that won the district title last year and has been known for advancing kids to regionals for as long as anyone can remember,” said Kats head coach Steve Cantu, who is Frank’s brother.
“But having golfers like sophomores James Alfaro and Jonathan Cardona, and senior Frank Thomas Cantu, sure makes it easy to relax.”
Alfaro led the way for the Kats, taking the individual title with a 71. Meanwhile, Cardona was a third-place medalist with an 81 and Thomas Cantu came in fifth with an 89.
Thanks to the trio, the Kats were easily able to outpace second place Zapata and will now prepare for the Region IV-4A tournament, set for Monday and Tuesday at Lozano Golf Course in Corpus Christi.
Also qualifying for regionals as an individual was Rio Hondo junior Oscar Alaniz, who finished second overall with a 79. Unfortunately, Alaniz withdrew from regional competition afterward due to a nagging ACL injury, said Rio Hondo head coach Andy Alvarez.
“This is an injury he had most of the season, but he really wanted to play district to try to help his team qualify,” Alvarez said of Alaniz, who also qualified for regionals last season as a sophomore.
“He really grinded out there and toward the end you could tell the injury was bothering him. Still, he played well and really only had two bad holes.”
With Alaniz withdrawing, Port Isabel’s Tyler Francis will now compete at regionals. Francis tied for third overall but beat out a Hidalgo golfer on the scorecard.
Meanwhile, on the girls’ side, Zapata won the team title followed by Hidalgo. The girls’ regional tournament will be played Monday and Tuesday at Oso Golf Course in Corpus.
Last year’s team champion, La Feria, didn’t make the cut, however, individually, sophomore Isabel Prado and senior Celica Quintana qualified and will return to regionals for the second consecutive year.
“They’ve got a decent chance of advancing to state this time around because they have played at regionals before and know what it takes,” said La Feria head golf coach David Briones of Prado and Quintana.
Last year, Prado missed qualifying for the state tournament in Austin by four strokes.
Joining Prado and Quintana in Corpus next week will be teammate Carlos Garcia. The sophomore shot a 93 on Tuesday to qualify for regionals.