DENNIS SILVA II | STAFF WRITER
As the high school boys golf season starts up today with the Sharyland ISD Tournament at Shary Golf Course, there’s a lot of uncertainty, a lot of unknown, a lot of wait-and-see.
All 24 teams are in the same boat.
“It’s the first tournament since the fall season,” Sharyland High boys coach Fernando Rodriguez said. “We’ll see how the kids come in and see where we’re at. That’s what this tournament is all about.”
Teams like Harlingen High, McAllen High and McAllen Memorial, among others, join District 31-5A stalwarts Edinburg Vela, Mission Veterans Memorial, Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer.
The Rattlers are in a bit of a rebuilding stage. Their best player is precocious freshman Jimmy Lee, though Lee is also ranked No. 1 in the Valley heading into the spring season. He boasts a 72 average.
“His work ethic is what separates him,” Rodriguez said. “He’s very dedicated, very disciplined. He plays tournaments in Houston, Dallas, Austin. He’s a top player on the junior circuit.”
Rodriguez’s team also consists of returner Matthew Gonzalez, who qualified for regionals last year and is the team’s only senior. Junior Victor Rodriguez Jr and sophomore Cord Lopez also figure into the team’s plans.
“It comes down to different players working on different parts of their game,” Rodriguez said. “We concentrate a lot on the short game and good course management, especially playing at Shary Golf Course, where we’ll play district.”
HOVDA AT IT AGAIN
The high school girls golf season teed off a couple of weeks ago with the PSJA ISD Invitational.
Sharyland High and Sharyland Pioneer again figure to be powers in Valley golf, and individually Weslaco High’s Anika Hovda will star again as well.
The junior placed eighth with a two-day score of 162 at the San Antonio Northside Invitational last weekend.
“She had a slow start on the first day, and on the second day shot about a 75,” said Weslaco girls acting coach Jorge Rivas. “She left some birdies out there, some makeable putts. She was mad at herself for it.”
That’s precisely the attitude Rivas wants.
“Her work habits are phenomenal, and she takes a lot of pride in the game,” Rivas said of Hovda. “I wish the other girls would pick that up. I just want them to concentrate and focus more on how to practice. Some of them are just out here taking this as a class or credit.”
Rivas said Anna Palacios is another player who works hard, but two is not enough.
“I want more focus, I want more of an emphasis on practice,” Rivas said.
Rivas is leading the team with the head coach on a leave of absence for personal reasons. Rivas said he expects to be coaching the team the rest of the year.
FAST STARTS
Some of the usual suspects are off to strong starts to the girls season.
Sharyland Pioneer’s Carina Hernandez and Maria Guajardo placed fourth and ninth, respectively, at the PSJA ISD Invitational last month. Sharyland High’s Carolina Cantu finished seventh.
As a team, Pioneer placed second and Mercedes placed sixth.
At the SA Northside Invitational, Weslaco High placed 10th thanks to Hovda, Palacios, and teammates Tiffany Cardenas, Anica Arce and Michelle Mata.
At the Sharyland ISD Invitational last week, Sharyland High star Ana Jose Erana won with a score of 149. She was followed in second, third and fourth places by teammates Laura Rodriguez, Mariana Flores and Raquel Flores.
Mission High junior Leah Lerma placed fifth.
Edinburg Vela placed second at the tournament with a score of 701, buoyed by the performances of Annika Ellrott (161) and Ariel Chavan (168).