By STEFAN MODRICH, Staff Writer
The La Feria golf team is sending three of its best individuals to the regional tournament — senior Andy Cortez and juniors Bianca Bruno and Briana Garcia.
In a sense, they each represent connections to the past, present, and future of the school’s golf program.
Cortez, the District 32-4A champion, is headed to UTRGV in the fall.
La Feria coach David Briones coached Bianca’s sister, Briana Bruno, whom Bianca saw play at the regional as a freshman when Briana was a senior.
“(Cortez) has been there three years in a row,” Briones said. “So it should be familiar grounds for him. (Bruno and Garcia) have been there as observers but have not actually played, so it should be something different.”
Bianca Bruno is very close with her sister and said the two spoke Tuesday about preparing for the new setting of the regional.
The boys regional will be held at Lozano Golf Course and the girls regional is at Oso Golf Course in Corpus Christi today and Tuesday.
“You’re not in your comfort zone anymore,” Bianca Bruno said. “It’s up in Corpus Christi, so you’re in a different atmosphere and it’s very windy, so she said to be ready for it.”
Said Cortez of the regional course, “There’s a lot of wind, and there’s not a lot of trees. Every shot, it’s going to come into play, so just trying to take everything into consideration before you hit your actual shot, it’s just crucial.”
Bianca Bruno said she’s emphasized improving her iron game.
“I’ve been working on that,” Bianca Bruno said. “The accuracy is more (precise) and straight, and I knew with my distances and everything, which (club) to hit with.”
She said that learning how to deal with the adversity she faced when she hit a ball in front of a tree in the District 32-4A championship will help prepare her for the challenge of regional competition.
“There’s no easy way to get out of that,” Bianca Bruno said. “With a big tree trunk in front of you, you just have to learn how to punch it out and be ready for that when regionals come.”
Today marks Garcia’s first foray into a regional as well. But she is no stranger to high-level competition thanks to cheerleading, which she said would serve her well because of her ability to overcome nerves and perform in front of large crowds.
“I’m looking forward to meeting the competition,” Garcia said. “I’m going to do the best that I can. It’s something different that I’ve never experienced before.”
Cortez’s wisdom and previous regional tournament experience could prove beneficial to Bianca Bruno and Garcia. The senior said he learned to adjust to the norms of regional play, including the heightened scrutiny from tournament officials and monitors to the intensity of their opponents that differs from district play.
“You’re not there to ask your opponent what to do, they’re going to be on your back the entire way,” Cortez said. “Having that feel of someone always watching you kind of travels onto you. I guess you get used to the fact that someone’s always watching you, so you always have to be on top of your game.”