STAFF REPORTS
SAN ANTONIO — For the most part, Rio Grande Valley boys got off to a rugged start Wednesday in San Antonio during the opening rounds of the Region IV-6A and Region IV-5A golf tournaments.
The two-day Region IV-6A tournament is being played at Republic Golf Club and the Region IV-5A event, also lasting two days, is being staged at the Golf Club of Texas.
The final rounds of both events are scheduled Thursday with the top three teams advancing to next month’s UIL state tournament along with the top three individual players who are not members of a state-qualifying team.
None of the Valley teams and individual players were among the leaders except for Sharyland High’s Jun Min Lee in the Region IV-5A tournament. He was tied for first place at 67 with Alamo Heights’ Mac Meissan.
Hanna’s Santiago Garcia, competing individually at the Region IV-6A tournament, shot a 7-over-par 78 and was well behind the frontrunners.
Leading the 6A tournament after Wednesday’s round was Austin Westlake’s Reese Ramsey with a 5-under-par 66. After Ramsey were three golfers from Central Texas schools all tied at 70. The best score by a Valley golfer in the 6A tournament was turned in by McAllen Memorial’s C.W. Phillips with a 72. He was tied for sixth individually.
Leading the team competition at the 6A tournament was Austin Westlake at 282. After that came San Antonio Johnson at 301 and San Antonio Churchill at 304. Harlingen High turned in the best Valley team score at the 6A event and was in 10th place at 327.
At the Region IV-5A tournament at the Golf Club of Texas, Alamo Heights was the team leader at 293. Next came Boerne Champion at 310 and S.F. Austin 314. Sharyland High was at 319, while Brownsville Veterans Memorial was further behind at 372.
The best round Wednesday for the Chargers was carded by Kevin Gomez with an 89. Rounding out the scores for the Chargers were Daniel Yznaga (94), Michael Valle (94), Ryan Ruiz (95) and Jorge Santillana 98.