CHS boys shoot for fourth Ruidoso title in a row

Clovis High senior Perry Jackson and juniors Travis Reid and Guillermo Chavez have a simple goal over the next couple of days — win a fourth consecutive Leroy Gooch Invitational golf tournament boys team championship.

All three have played on the previous three Gooch champions, including Reid and Chavez as eighth graders.

The tournament, featuring roughly 20 teams, was slated to tee off around 9 a.m. today, an hour later than originally scheduled due to significant weekend precipitation.

Boys competition is scheduled for Alton Lakes Country Club today and The Links at Sierra Blanca on Tuesday. Girls will play at Cree Meadows Golf Course both days.

In addition to playing the challenging courses, Simmons said the Cats like to play in the tournament because they see quality competition from other parts of the state.

“These are probably two of the tourgher courses we’ll play all season,” he said. “(Alto Lakes is) in a woods, and things are a little tighter (than usual). The Links is kind of a Scottish-style course; it’s pretty wide open, but it has a lot of undulating hills.”

Rounding out the Cats’ quintet for the tournament are senior Shane Walker and junior Ryan Hahn.

Clovis’ girls hope to improve on a seventh-place finish in 2003, led by senior Susan Shelley. Coach Jeff Fontanilla said the Lady Wildcats are hoping to nail down at least one of three legs needed to qualify for Class 5A state competition next month.

“Last year we had some pretty good scores here,” Fontanilla said. “I think it’ll be pretty much the same teams here. I’m looking for Susan to go ahead and get her last (third individual) state leg.”

The Lady Cats’ squad also includes senior Carlee Snyder, sophomores Whitney Jones and Brianne Bracken and freshman Amanda Estes.

The Clovis boys haven’t played since March 22, when they finished third in the APS Invitational in Albuquerque. The Lady Cats have been idle since March 19-20 in the Amarillo Relays.