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Clovis golfers prep for state in Farmginton

SPORTS WRITERdwagner@cnjonline.com

It would probably be more fun for Clovis High junior Jake Foster in this week’s Class 6A boys state golf tournament if he went as part of a team.

But even though the Wildcats came up short and will be represented only by Foster, he said there’s probably a benefit to it.

“I’ll just be able to focus (on his own game),” he said. “There’ll be no distractions.”

link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Clovis freshman Sydni Hill watches her shot on the fifth hole Thursday at Colonial Park Golf Course.

Meantime, Clovis High’s girls are slated to be among eight teams competing on the girls side. Play in the 36-hole, two-day event begins with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start on Monday at Farmington’s Pinon Hills Golf Course.

While Foster said there’s pressure at every tournament, he won’t have to worry about what anyone else is doing. He’ll just try to finish as high up the line as he can for medalist honors.

He went out to Farmington during spring break in early April and played a couple of rounds at Pinon Hills.

“My goal is definitely to make the all-state team (top six),” said Foster, who went to state as a member of the Cats’ team last year. “I want to give it my all and, regardless of the outcome, be thankful for the experience.”

Cats coach Cal Fullerton said Foster has a chance to do well.

“Score-wise, he stacks up pretty good,” Fullerton said. “We don’t play some of the courses they do up north, but golf is a lot about confidence and Jake’s mental game is as good as any kid I’ve ever had.”

The Cats were one leg short of qualifying as a team — and only strokes away in several tournaments from getting what they needed.

“That’s disappointing, but as good as Jake’s been playing all year, I’m pretty excited where he stacks up,” Fullerton said.

link Staff photo: Kevin Wilson

Clovis junior Jake Foster practices putts Thursday afternoon. Foster is the lone boys golfer heading to the state tournament for Clovis.

Only four boys teams qualified for state — Rio Rancho Cleveland, La Cueva and Clovis’ District 4-6A rivals, Hobbs and Carlsbad.

Meantime, Lady Wildcats coach Steve Speck said his team looks like about a No. 7 seed, slightly ahead of Volcano Vista and just behind Rio Rancho.

With a state squad comprised of freshmen Sydni Hill and Raquel Anaya, sophomores Hannah Reid and Katie Trujillo and junior Marissa Waters, Speck knows their work is cut out.

He said Anaya grew up in Farmington and has played the course relatively recently.

“My personal goal is to try to pass Rio Rancho,” Speck said. “The other teams are way in front of us.

“I told the girls to just relax and go have fun. Hopefully, we can build on this experience.”

Waters, whose game has steadily improved during the season, said the key is to stay calm.

“I’ll just try not to ‘wig’ myself out too much,” she said. “I wish my scores would improve more, but I feel like I’m hitting the ball better.”

She said it could be a blessing in disguise that the Lady Cats are ranked pretty low in the field.

“We’re not expected to do much, but I think it would be pretty cool if we came out and did better than anyone thought we would,” she said.

Deming, which was a Class 4A program last year before the NMAA’s realignment, should be a solid favorite to win the girls title, Speck said, followed by Cleveland.

 
 

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