PHS golfers facing busy first week

Like most Portales High spring sports, the golf teams are getting off to a late start to accommodate state runs in basketball, but that’s about to change.

The PHS girls open the season today in the Hobbs Invitational, then the boys get going on Thursday in New Mexico Military’s Alien 8 event in Roswell before both teams travel to Ruidoso for another tournament on Friday.

The Rams finished fifth in last year’s Class 4A state meet and return the state individual champion in senior Thomas Tulk.

PHS coach Matt Hunton said the boys return their top four players from a year ago in Tulk, seniors Mario Cordova and Andrew Underbrink and junior Austin Davis.

“I really expect a lot out of the team this year,” Hunton said. “I think with the experience we have, it’s going to really help us going forward.”

Hunton said sophomore Talon Payne, who transferred in from Floyd, has played a lot of golf but not at the high school level.

“He has a lot of talent,” Hunton said. “It’ll be exiting to watch him grow throughout the year.”

The Lady Rams, who were third last year, lost Bailey Rowley to graduation after she finished third in the state meet a year ago. But first-year coach Candra Reynolds, who spent the last two years as an assistant to Charity Gomez, is hopeful her squad can come along behind junior returnees Janae Hale and Kaitlynne Underbrink.

Eighth-graders Kinzie Davis and Mattison Blakey are likely to fill two of the remaining three varsity slots, Reynolds said. The fifth spot, for now, if wide open.

“I believe Kaitlynne and Janae should get their (three required) legs to qualify for state,” said Reynolds, the sister of PHS softball coach Robbie Crowley. “I don’t know how quickly we can get the team to qualify, but we’ll start working in that direction.”

PHS SCHEDULE

March

22 — at Hobbs Invitational (girls), 9 a.m.; 23 — NMMI Alien 8 at Roswell (boys), 9 a.m.; 24 — at Ruidoso tournament.

April

4 — Clovis Invite, 9 a.m.; 7 — Texico Invite (girls), 9 a.m.; 10-11 — Leroy Gooch Invitational at Ruidoso (boys); 11 — at Lovington tournament (girls); 17-18 — Spring Classic at Roswell, 9 a.m.; 25 — at Lovington tournament; 27 — Last Chance tournament at Roswell (NMMI).

May

1 — District 4/1-4A meet at Ruidoso, 9 a.m.; 8-9 — Class 6A state meet at Spring River, Roswell.

Boys coach: Matt Hutton. Girls coach: Candra Reynolds.