McALLEN — Sharyland High’s Ximena Paz and Sharyland Pioneer’s Joslyn Lopez were the two best girls golfers this season in the Rio Grande Valley, averaging an 81 throughout the year.
The two were grouped together at McAllen’s Champion Lakes Golf Course for the final day of the girls Region IV-5A golf tournament.
Paz and Lopez embraced after finishing the final hole of the tournament and of their high school careers. It is not all gloomy for the golfers from Sharyland ISD, like the weather was at Champion Lakes. A steady mist complemented the overcast day. Sometimes the sky would open, but only for a couple minutes.
The seniors will be playing the sport at the collegiate level.
“I think I could have done better,” Lopez said. “I am not mad with how I finished. At the end of the day it happened, you just got to move on.”
Lopez is off to the University of La Verne in California. Paz is headed to the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Lopez finished with a score of 158 and tied for 16th. Paz tied for 32nd with a 172 over the two days.
“I did not expect to finish the way I did,” Paz said. “But I had a good senior season.”
Both are excited about the new experiences awaiting in college but take pride in some they already learned, like playing until the last hole of a tournament.
“Anything can happen as a golfer,” Lopez said. “If you are a golfer, do not think it is late because you have not played since you were 5. You can still do it.”
Paz is an example of that. The senior did not start playing until the spring of her sophomore year, she said, and turned into one of the Valley’s best.
Sharyland Pioneer and Sharyland High finished seventh and eighth, respectively. The two teams were the highest finishers in the Valley.
McAllen High’s Kayla Vargas had the third-best average this year in the Valley with an 83. Vargas only finished a stroke behind Lopez, the best from the Valley over the two days, with a 159 and an 18th-place finish.
Sharyland Pioneer’s Ritzy Dominguez was the third best from the Valley after posting two 82s. Dominguez tied for 23rd. Paz was the fourth best and teammate Carolina Tirado was not far behind, only a stroke behind Paz.
The winner was grouped with Paz and Lopez. Boerne Champion’s Savannah Dupre tore up the course with under-par scores for both days. Dupre posted a 137, four strokes better than Smithson Valley’s Sayers Allen. Alamo Heights blue, Alamo Heights gold and Boerne Champion finished in the top three, respectively.
The boys take to McAllen’s Champion Lakes Golf Course at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
RGV Girls Region IV Class 6A and Class 5A results
Class 5A Region IV Golf Tournament at Champion Lakes Golf Course in McAllen
T16. Joslyn Lopez, Sharyland Pioneer, 77-81-156
18. Kayla Vargas, McAllen High, 80-79-159
T23. Ritzy Dominguez, Sharyland Pioneer, 82-82-164
T32. Ximena Paz, Sharyland High, 83-89=172
T35. Carolina Tirado, Sharyland High, 89-84-173
T38. Alyssa Cedillo, Sharyland Pioneer, 85-89-174
42. Brianna Vela, Sharyland High, 87-88-175
43. Sofia Alaniz-Choy, McAllen Memorial 89-88-177
45. Arianna Vela, Sharyland High, 90-90-180
46. Madison Davis, Mission Veterans, 92-90-182
T48, Ivana Silva, Sharyland High 94-90-184
T50. Peyton York, Sharyland Pioneer 98-89-187
T50. Jordan Hernandez, Edcouch-Elsa, 95-92-187
T54. Victoria Sandoval, Sharyland Pioneer, 97-91-188
T54. Kylie Mitchell, Harlingen South, 92-96-188
56. Yessenia Medellin, Brownsville Porter, 96-94-190
T58. Lillian Marroquin, Mission Veterans, 98-95-193
T58. Belinda Cortinas, La Joya Palmview, 97-95-193
61. Daniella Sanchez, Harlingen South, 98-97-195
64. Dalissa Poras, Rio Grande City, 97-109-206
66. Alexis Silva, Brownsville Veterans, 107-101-208
67. Jaylen Gonzalez, Rio Grande City, 103-110-213
69. Mya Salinas, Harlingen South, 114-101-215
T73 Kara Jensen, Harlingen South, 119-105-224
75. Amy Perez, Mission Veterans, 111-114-225
T76. Salma Sotelo, Brownsville Veterans, 106-120-226
T76. Susan Lopez, La Joya Palmview, 111-115-226
T78. Isabella Venable, Brownsville Veterans, 122-105-227
T78. Valeria Martinez, La Joya Palmview, 120-107-227
82. Victoria Olivarez, Mission Veterans, 115-114-229
83. Anapola Nunez, Brownsville Veterans, 116-117-233
T86. Taryn Mata, Brownsville Veterans, 129-118-247
Class 6A Region IV Golf Tournament The Golf Club of Texas in San Antonio
T55. Reagan Ramirez, Harlingen High, 100-94-194
T58. Kassandra Monroy, PSJA High, 102-94-196
T58. Abigail Cavazos, Harlingen High, 99-97-196
T61. Clarissa Longoria, Los Fresnos, 105-92-197
T61. Avy Martinez, Los Fresnos, 103-94-107
T65. Camila Calderon, Los Fresnos, 98-100-198
T67. Audrey Sauceda Puentes, Los Fresnos, 102-97-199
T72. Celeste Cortez, Los Fresnos, 103-104-207
T72. Janelle Castillo, Weslaco High, 99-108-207
T74. Gabby Pacheco, Edinburg North, 102-108-210
76. Jade Segura, Weslaco High, 106-106-212
77. Isabella Rivera, Mission High, 100-113-220
79. Salma Carreon, Weslaco High, 116-104-220
T82. Isabela Rodriguez, Weslaco High, 115-111-226
T82. Audree Leija, Edinburg High, 116-110-226
85. Joslynn Villareal, PSJA High, 119-108-227
86. Madalynn Garza, PSJA High, 116-113-229
90. Ashley Garcia, Edinburg High, 127-118-245
92. Carla Flores, PSJA High, 123-129-252
93. Lorelai Martinez, PSJA High, 136-122-258
94. Shelby Celedon, Edinburg High, 104-162-266
95. Katie Lewis, Edinburg High, 146-131-277
96. Emily De La Mora, Edinburg High, 149-135-284