McALLEN — Consistency was key for McAllen Memorial’s Esteban Gonzalez and the Mustangs on Saturday.
Gonzalez, a senior, blistered Champion Lakes Golf Course with his second straight 4-under-par 68 to win medalist honors and, as a team, Memorial came back from a six-stroke deficit to capture the team title at the Class 5A Regional Preview golf tournament. The tournament is a warmup leading to district and regional events beginning at the end of March.
Alamo Heights won the girls division behind medalist Julia Vollmer’s two-day 146. The team finished with a 305-313–618 total to outdistance Corpus Christi Veterans (632) and Boerne Champion (632).
Smithson Valley’s boys held the team lead after the first round and finished second after a 297-310–607 total. Memorial shot 303-300–603 to capture the team title. Gonzalez’s rounds, 68-68-136, were the only two rounds under par for the event. Smithson Valley’s Cole Cantu’s 73-74-147 placed him second and teammate Anniston McIlwain took third with a72-76-148.
Gonzalez leads all Valley boys with a 72.42 going into the weekend, more than 3.5 strokes ahead of second place. As a team, Memorial is averaging a Valley best 307.92 strokes per round, more than 15 strokes better than second place. The Mustangs’ “B” team averages 332.22, good enough four fourth across the Valley.
Dylan Villarreal finished fourth with a 78-75-153 for the Mustangs. Ryan Avila shot a 79-78-157 and was followed by Maverick Erickson (158) and Daniel Garza (159) for Memorial.