By ROY HESS | THE BROWNSVILLE HERALD
The challenge of qualifying for state awaits golfers this week at the Region IV-6A/5A tournaments in San Antonio.
The boys play today and Tuesday, while the girls play Wednesday and Thursday.
The Class 6A tournaments will be played at San Antonio’s Republic Golf Club, while the Class 5A tournaments will take place at the Golf Club of Texas, also in the Alamo City.
The goal this week will be to get to the UIL state tournament in May by finishing as one of the top three teams or finishing as one of the top three individual golfers not on a state-qualifying team.
“I’m excited for the regional tournament,” said Hanna golfer Santiago Garcia, a four-time District 32-6A champion who is bidding to advance to state for the first time as a senior. “We’ll just see how I do Monday and Tuesday. I feel prepared (to do well).”
Garcia shot an 11-under-par 61 during the final round of the 32-6A tournament at Weslaco’s Tierra Santa Golf Club on April 5 to capture his fourth straight individual district title. The 61 tied Garcia with two other golfers for the best-ever 18-hole round by a Texas high school player in UIL competition.
“I’m really just hoping to get the job done (and make it to state) regardless of what my score may be,” said Garcia, who last week signed a full-ride athletic scholarship to play his sport next school year at Texas A&M International University in Laredo. “Yes, having shot that 61 does give me confidence. Don’t get me wrong, that 61 was amazing. I hope I can shoot another 61 at regionals, but if I can’t, I just want to shoot a score that will get me to state.
“I just have to wake up in the morning, follow my same routine and keep on fighting (on the course) to see what I can do,” he added. “The opportunity for me is there. It’s just about me going out and getting it done.
“I’ve always been a big believer in faith, so we’ll leave it in the Good Lord’s hands. I know He can guide me through this regional tournament, and hopefully, I can get that ticket to state.”
In the Region IV-6A boys tournament at Republic Golf Club, Garcia will be joined by teammates Austin O’Brien, Marco Gonzalez and Marco Sanchez, who made it to regionals as the 32-6A runner-up team at district behind Harlingen High (Dylan Martinez, Nate Newman, Mikey Bullock, Nicholas Galvan and Sammy Rios).
Also competing at the 6A boys regional event as individual qualifiers are Weslaco High’s Quin Vos and Harlingen South’s Brandon Garza.
At the 5A boys regional at The Golf Club of Texas, Brownsville Veterans Memorial teammates Daniel Yznaga and Skye Schweitzer will be playing today as individual qualifiers.
The Region IV-4A tournament for boys starts today at Corpus Christi’s Lozano Golf Course. Representing the Port Isabel Tarpons at the event will be Tyler Francis and Fernando Lopez Jr.
Meanwhile, in the 6A/5A girls regional tournaments starting Wednesday, a number of area golfers are entered.
Headlining the list of qualifiers at Republic Golf Club are the 32-6A champion Los Fresnos Lady Falcons (Natali Barrera, Jossie Garcia, Alexandra Montes, Kasandra Garcia and Brianna Munoz). Weslaco High was the 32-6A runner-up team that also qualified, while the individual qualifiers from 32-6A are Harlingen High’s Micaela Leandro and Hanna’s Alexis Rodriguez.
Returning to the Region IV-5A tournament for girls will be the District 32-5A champion Brownsville Veterans Memorial Lady Chargers (Julie Lucio, Fahtima Avila, Cecilia Garza, Giovana Ramirez and Anisa Nieto). The Lady Chargers won the regional tournament a year ago and advanced to the 5A state tournament, where they placed fifth.
Also playing at the Region IV-5A tournament are the Lopez Lady Lobos (Cecilia Velasquez, Sarahi Turrubiates, Johana Belmares and Vianney Pena), who finished second behind Brownsville Veterans at the 32-5A tournament.
Roy Hess covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @HessRgehess