Ram golfers end up sixth

GRANTS — Portales High’s boys shot a little better on the second day and moved up one notch to sixth in the state Class 1A-3A golf tournament at Coyote del Malphis Golf Course.

The Rams improved three strokes over their first-day total with a 316 to finish at 635 and three shots ahead of Sandia Prep, the team they were tied with after Monday’s round.

“We came back a little bit and played a little better,” Rams coach Patrick Crowley said. “We probably chipped and putted a little better.”

Four of Portales’ five players shot a better score than on Monday — and junior Chris Adkins was on his way to doing that before he skied to a 46 on the back nine. He finished at 162 after Tuesday’s round of 82.

Other scores for the Rams included senior Dale Welch 79-74 — 153, eighth-grader William Archibeque 79-78 — 157, senior Trevor Ferguson 83-82 — 165 and eighth-grader Donavin Sanchez 89-82 — 171.

Portales actually outshot team champion Mesilla Valley Christian by four strokes in Tuesday’s round. But the Las Cruces-based school was able to ride out its 14-stroke lead after the first day, when it shot 290, and win the tournament by seven strokes over host Grants with a final score of 610.

St. Michael’s Brandon Putnam maintained his individual lead from the first day, shooting a 74 on Tuesday for a 36-hole total of 143 and a two-stroke win over Mike Civerolo of Hope Christian and Karl Gottlieb of Grants.

In girls competition, St. Michael’s took the team title by one stroke over Socorro (727-728). Those two were separated by two shots after the first round.

Shiprock, led by individual medalist Glynnis Price at 71-74 — 145, finished third in team standings at 769.