CHS boys ready to challenge again in 5A golf

The Clovis High boys golf team hopes the third time is the charm.

The Wildcats were Class 5A contenders in each of coach George Simmons’ first two seasons but came up short, finishing third both times.

With senior Perry Jackson and juniors Travis Reid and Guillermo Chavez all in their fourth seasons of varsity competition, the Cats are ready to make another run at it.

“We’ve been close the past couple of years,” Simmons said Monday after the Cats struggled a bit but won the season-opening Hobbs Invitational. “We have the experience, and we have a team where everybody seems to get along. We should still be a contender for the state title this year.”

The Cats earned one of three needed qualifying legs for state at Hobbs, despite shooting a relatively modest 313 score. Chavez, who was the tournament medalist with a 76, and Reid and Jackson, who both shot 78s, also notched a leg as individuals.

Simmons said first-tournament jitters may have been in evidence, but he expects his squad to shoot better as the season goes.

“It was definitely not the norm,” he said of Monday’s performance. “With the experience these guys have, there’s no reason for us to shoot over 300.”

The key to team success will be to fill the No. 4 and No. 5 spots. Juniors Ryan Hahn and Blake Berry filled those roles Monday, while senior Shane Walker is also in contention.

“Our four and five men played for the (junior varsity) the past couple of years and they’re just getting their feet wet,” Simmons said. “I’ve been really impressed with the way Ryan has improved his game over the past couple of years. He’s really dedicated to the game and works hard.”

Clovis’ girls, in their second outing of the spring, came in fourth out of four teams at Hobbs. Senior Susan Shelley led the Lady Wildcats with a score of 98.

Shelley is easily the team’s most experienced player and will be counted on heavily during the upcoming season, according to second-year coach Jeff Fontanilla. “I think Susan could be a top 10 player in the state,” he said.

The Lady Cats hope to do better in the Amarillo Relays, scheduled for three courses in the Amarillo area on Friday and Saturday.

“I’m hoping we can have good practices the next two or three days and they get two legs for state at Amarillo,” Fontanilla said. “It’s going to be a lot of work, but I think we can do it. These girls are young, but they know what they need to do.”

Hobbs Invitational

Monday

Boys

Team standings: 1. Clovis 313; 2. Portales 316; 3. Hobbs 324; 4. Artesia 327; 5. Lovington 351; 6. Jal 352.

Clovis results: Guillermo Chavez 76, Travis Reid 78, Perry Jackson 78, Ryan Hahn 81. Blake Berry 91.

Medalists: 1. Chavez 76; 2. (three-way tie) Reid, Jackson and Hernandez, Lovington 78; 5. (three-way tie) Jordan Boerio, Hobbs; Josh Lattimer, Hobbs, and Ariel Lujan, Jal 79.

Girls

Team standings: 1. Hobbs 371; 2. Portales 389; 3. Artesia 399; 4. Clovis 414.

Clovis results: Susan Shelley 44-54 — 98, Brianne Bracken 51-49 — 100, Whitney Jones 51-53 — 104, Carlee Snyder 54-58 — 112. Amanda Estes 55-61 — 116.

Medalists: 1. Cassidy Merrick, Portales 87; 2. (tie) Courtnee Madrid, Hobbs and Lindsay Townsend, Artesia 91; 4. (tie) Sharilyn Patrick, Hobbs and Jessica Puckett, Hobbs 92.