By ANDREW CRUM, Staff Writer
If last week’s predistrict tournament was any indication, the teams in District 32-6A expect the title to come down to a few strokes.
The eight boys and girls teams from 32-6A are back on the same course and ready to compete for the 36-hole District 32-6A championship, which begins at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start today and continues Thursday at the South Padre Island Golf Club in Laguna Vista.
The par-72 course plays at more than 5,000 yards and should play much differently now that it has had time to dry off after several periods of rain last week.
Last week in predistrict competition, Brownsville Veterans Memorial came out on top, followed by Hanna and Harlingen High on the boys side.
“(Hanna, Brownsville Veterans and Harlingen High) were battling pretty hard,” Brownsville Veterans coach Jose Zaratesaid. “Any of those teams can turn it up and have a great day.”
For the girls, Los Fresnos took the top spot, Brownsville Veterans tied with Hanna for second and Harlingen High was right behind in fourth.
“There was a difference of just four strokes from first to fourth (for the girls),” Hanna coach Adrian Garcia said.
The coaches were glad to get on the course last week even with different conditions to get ready.
“The course was wet so they had to play through that,” Zaratesaid. “It gives you an experience of playing the course, the feeling of it. It keeps you sharp and so you know what to expect.
With the teams being very similar, it seems to be anyone’s tournament.
“It will be interesting. (District) 32-6A is very tough this year,” Garcia said. “But the cream rises to the top.”
Garcia said his players are feeling very anxious and are ready to compete.
The South Padre Island course is Los Fresnos’ home course. Falcons coach Luis Gonzalez said his team looked forward to its slight advantage of knowing the bumps and bends, but that familiarity doesn’t mean anything unless they go out and play well.
Last week was a practice round, and now the real test begins among the district competitors.
“There are a lot of good teams in the district, so we’re going to have to play our best,” Zaratesaid. “Everyone’s been close. No one has been running away from anyone.
“It should be fun.”
Andrew Crum covers sports for The Brownsville Herald. You can reach him at (956) 982-6629 or via email at [email protected]. On Twitter he’s @andrewmcrum.