MFalls has four golfers qualify for regional tournaments
The Marble Falls High School golf teams left their marks in their final District 25-5A tournaments in 2022. Marble Falls is dropping to Class 4A beginning in the 2022-23 academic year.
The Mustangs finished third overall by shooting 332-328–660 at Avery Ranch Golf Club in Austin March 29-30. After the first round, Marble Falls was in second place by one stroke in front of Georgetown and behind Leander Rouse. The Mustangs missed finishing second by six strokes and were nine strokes behind the district champion.
Meanwhile, the Lady Mustangs were fourth thanks to shooting 361-375–736, missing finishing third by three strokes. Maddie Deberard paced Marble Falls by shooting 81-82–163 to advance to the Class 5A Region IV tournament as a medalist. The district tournament was played at Delaware Springs Golf Course April 4 and 6.
Three Mustangs also are headed to regionals thanks to their individual scores.
Top of the list is Blake Turner, the individual district champion who shot 77-77–184 and needed to play two playoff holes, both at No. 18, for the win. By rule, the golfers had to play No. 18 twice if a winner isn’t decided after the first playoff. If neither golfer won the hole the second time, they would have moved to another hole, Marble Falls head coach Ricky Blackington said.
“Blake had a chance to win (in the first playoff) with a long birdie putt,” he said. “The second time around, Blake got him.”
Joining Turner at regionals are Coby Holley, who shot 84-79–163 and finished sixth overall. Kolton Pannell advanced as an alternate after posting 83-85–168 for 14th overall.
“I thought they did a great job,” Blackington said. “Everybody had to deal (with windy conditions). Georgetown didn’t play well the first day and we were trying to hold them and chase Rouse the leader. We had to shoot better numbers, and we did but it wasn’t enough.”
Deberard’s finish meant she is a member of the all-district first team. Teammate Ann Marie Wollek is on the second team all-district thanks to shooting a 90-96–186. And Chloe Kent’s two-round total of 98-102–200 is a new personal best.
The boys regional tournament is Monday-Tuesday, April 18-19, while the girls play Wednesday-Thursday, April 20-21. Both events are at The Golf Club of Texas, 13600 Briggs Ranch in San Antonio.
Unlike the other sports, the University Interscholastic League allows only two teams from each district to advance to regionals. Golf requires playing well on consecutive rounds no matter the weather, so that means putting up numbers that are lower than opponents, who may be inspired to improve after the first round. That’s what happened with Georgetown, which was considered the favorite to win the championship going into the tournament.
“It’s a cut-throat system,” Blackington said. “Some teams are solid through and through, and we’re in a big district. There are some heavy hitters, and we knew what our scores needed to be.”
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RESULTS
Boys
Blake Turner 77-77–154; Coby Holley 84-79–163; Kolton Pannell 83-85–168; Porter Vinson 88-87–175; Dominik Flores 100-94–194
Girls
Maddie Deberard 81-82–163; Ann Marie Wollek 90-96–186; Kross Talamantes 93-95–188; Chloe Kent 98-102–200; Emily Martin 97-105–202
