Reid, Chavez tie for title

ALBUQUERQUE — Clovis High sophomores Travis Reid and Guillermo Chavez tied for the individual championship and led the Wildcats to the boys team title Monday in District 4-5A golf at Los Altos Golf Course.

Reid shot 38-34 — 72 and Chavez 35-37 — 72, one over par, as the Cats posted a four-man total of 299. Eldorado was second at 310, followed by Carlsbad 315, Hobbs 334 and Manzano 350.

In girls competition, senior Mae Mercadante shot a career-best 42-38 — 80 and shared the individual title with Hobbs’ Heather Goodwin and Sara Wallach. The Lady Eagles took the team title at 347, with Carlsbad second at 358 and Clovis third with a season-best 375.

Due to school obligations, neither Eldorado nor Manzano was able to field a full girls squad for the tournament.

CHS boys coach George Simmons said Reid overcame a slow start in which he bogeyed three of his first four holes before going bogey-free the rest of the way. Meantime, Chavez played a steady overall round.

“Travis got off to a rocky start, but after that he played real solid,” Simmons said. “It was good to see Guillermo playing better today. I think he’s feeling more comfortable right now with his swing.”

Junior Perry Jackson shot 39-36 — 75 and senior Charles Gonzales scored 41-39 — 80 as the Cats finished below 300 for the second time in a week. They won their own triangular against Portales and Tucumcari on Thursday with a four-man total of 390.

Freshman Jordan Moore finished at 44-47 — 91 after taking a four-stroke penalty at the end for carrying an extra club in his bag.

The Cats will now prepare for the two-day state tournament beginning Monday at Desert Lakes Golf Course in Alamogordo. They will try to overtake two-time defending state champion La Cueva.

Clovis held a five-stroke lead after the first day in last year’s state meet before the Bears rallied to overhaul them.

“I think if we get out early and put pressure on them, we can take it from them,” Simmons said.

Meantime, Mercadante played her final seven holes in one-under to become a girls individual tri-champion with Goodwin and Wallach.

Senior Christina Gallegos shot a season-best 45-48 — 93 for the Lady Cats, while senior Haley Brown came in at 50-51 — 101, junior Susan Shelley finished at 49-52 — 101 and junior Amanda Drake ended at 59-57 — 116.

“Mae played unbelievable today,” CHS girls coach Jeff Fontanilla said. “Every time she needed to make a putt or hit a good shot, she did.”

The Lady Cats will also travel to Alamogordo for state next week.