HARLINGEN — It would have taken an unlikely self-implosion for McAllen’s Esteban Gonzalez to blow his seven-stroke lead Sunday.
Gonzalez continued where he left off with another great showing that was highlighted by a hole-in-one on Hole 7, as he went on to win the boys 15-18 group title at the Gillman Auto Group South Texas Junior Golf Classic at the Harlingen Country Club.
“I think I still have work to do,” Gonzalez said. “But, the parts of my game that I have been working on — my putting and my chipping — I have seen a lot of improvement. I still have work to do to get ready for college.”
The UTRGV commit shot a score of 138, a 69 on both days to finish six under par for the tournament. The hole-in-one at seven was the second in the history of the STJGC and one that Gonzalez did not see go in.
“It was very calm because I could not see the ball, none of us did at the tee-box,” Gonzalez said. “My dad was up there by the green and he went crazy. I just thought, ‘Oh, my gosh. Did I make it?’ It kind of went from there. Just a bunch of high-fives from everybody. It was cool.”
Ryan Romero and Rex Flores finished in a tie for second place, posting a total of 154. Nick Luna carded a 154, and Jeffrey Janik and Krish Bhakta finished with 156.
Adam Segura won the boys 13-14 group. Segura finished the tournament three-over par. A.J. Rincones and Liam McGurk came in second and third, respectively. Miguel Castillo IV placed first in the 11-12 flight.
Robstown’s Brooke Caldwell was invited by friend Bella Bullock to stay and compete at the tournament this weekend. Caldwell, a UIL state qualifier with Calallen, won the girls 15-18 flight.
Caldwell was humble in victory and appreciative of the experience gained from playing in a wind-heavy tournament.
“I do not feel like I played my best, nor do I think I should have gotten it with the score I had,” Caldwell said. “But, it does feel good to have it after a couple of windy days.”
Bullock and Isabella Pace finished tied for second. Pace, a 13-year-old from San Antonio, jumped age groups to compete with the older golfers. Caldwell won by eight strokes. Andrea Juarez came in fourth and Alliana Briones finished fifth.
Karina Rios won the girls 13-14 flight. Sofia Pena and Natalie Morales finished second and third, respectively.
Sienna Barbosa is the little linksters girls 9-10 winner, Alejandro DeLeon won the little linksters co-ed flight, Jonathan Torres is little linksters boys 9-10 champion, and Uriel Solis placed first in the little linksters boys 11-12 group.