BY SAUL BERRIOS-THOMAS | STAFF WRITER
Sharyland ISD once again dominated the District 31-5A tournament, but a new boys team winner stole the show.
Sharyland High was propelled by another dominant outing from senior Jun Min Lee, but Sharyland Pioneer had a more consistent team effort to net the district title on Wednesday at Max A. Mandel Municipal Golf Course in Laredo.
“We were one stroke ahead coming out of the first day,” Sharyland High coach Ashley Garza said. “I do have some younger players on the team. They played strong, but I feel like Pioneer just played better today. Our boys are not happy with their performance, and I think they are ready to practice hard the next two weeks to get ready for regionals.”
Lee, who has helped the Rattlers claim a few district titles throughout his career, took first overall with a two-day score of 141. Three of the next four leaders were Diamondbacks. Sharyland High’s second-best finisher was Daniel Branca in seventh with a score of 165.
“There was a lot of wind this morning, but it was just a long day,” Garza said. “When you have to sit there and wait constantly, it drains the day.”
The two individuals who advanced to the regional tournament along with Sharyland High and Pioneer were Felix Gomez (159) from Laredo Martin and Mission Veterans’ Steven Hinojosa (161).
Luis Chavez (147) led the way for Pioneer. Orlando Garcia (150), Ethan Lee (161) and Andrew Viera (179) rounded out Pioneer’s team. Alex Guerra’s score (180) was dropped for team calculations.
Aside from Lee and Branca, the only Rattlers golfer who finished under 170 was Cordero Lopez (167).
In the girls tournament, Sharyland High’s A team advanced to regionals with the tournament win. Pioneer also advanced with a second-place finish.
The top three finishers on the girls’ side were Sharyland High seniors Raquel Flores (146) and Laura Rodriguez (151), and Sharyland Pioneer’s Linsey Garza (161).
“They had a couple struggles, as well. The weather, of course, was a struggle, and it was just a long day,” Garza said of Flores and Rodriguez. “It’s hard to stay focused for seven hours, especially when it’s windy. … We are a strong team, but we are not going to just sit back for two weeks and let regionals come around. We are going to get prepared for the next step.”
The individual finishers were Rio Grande City’s Isabella Carmona (173) and Gabriella Osuna (186) from Sharyland High’s B team.
“She’s really excited,” Garza said. “Gabriella has been working hard all year. She has shown me improvement all year, and she is definitely excited to be a regional qualifier.”
The UIL Class 5A Region IV tournament for the boys will be held April 23-24 at Golf Club of Texas in San Antonio. The girls’ tournament will be April 25-26 at the same course.