2 Marble Falls, Burnet golfers advance to regionals

CAPTION: The Marble Falls High School boys golf team finishes third at the District 24-4A tournament April 1-2. The team includes Ryan Valentine (left), Beckett Berkman, Kolton Pannell, Camilo Montez, Ryan Nolen, Porter Vinson, Ross Oelschleger and coach Lonnie Tackitt. Courtesy photo

The Marble Falls High School boys golf team has two — freshman Camilo Montez and junior Porter Vinson — finish in the top 10 of the District 24-4A tournament to extend their seasons.

The two will play at the Class 4A Region III tournament April 15-16 at Bearkat Golf Course in Huntsville.

“They feel good about the regional site and like it,” coach Lonnie Tackitt said. “We’re looking forward to it.”

Montez shot a 77-82–159 to finish sixth overall in the individual standings, while Vinson scored an 87-75–162 to finish seventh.

As a team, the Mustangs and Lady Mustangs each finished third in the team standings of their district tournaments.

“We knew it was going to be a fight because we had a district preview tournament,” Tackitt said. “Lago Vista and Burnet (boys) had played well. Lampasas’ varsity didn’t play in it. We knew they were strong.”

To illustrate how solid the district teams were, he pointed out that Marble Falls golfer Ryan Nolen tied his personal best in the first round and set a new personal best on the second day. But it wasn’t enough to help the Mustangs overcome Lampasas, which won the district championship and Lago Vista, which finished as the runner-up.

Ultimately, he said, the team outcomes came down to who could make putts.

“Each day we had too many upper 80 scores,” the coach said. “That really hurts you. We caught up a little bit, but it wasn’t enough to catch you as a team. You can’t make those triples and quads. We had too many doubles in a row. We played well except for a few holes.”

The Lady Mustangs posted their best scores when it mattered most, Tackitt said.

“The girls shot their season low in the first round,” he said. “Lampasas is very strong; their coach said they have nine good girls who can play. We shot our season best, and we were still 40 shots back on the first day.”

He commended the Lady Mustangs, some of whom joined the team late after their commitments to other sports in the fall semester ended. Two hadn’t played golf.

“They came in and did a great job,” the coach said. “They picked it up real well, and they improved. That was fun.”

Meanwhile, two Burnet Lady Dawgs — Avery Gowin and Cambria Neenan — are advancing to the regional tournament, which also is at Bearkat Golf Course in Huntsville April 17-18.

Gowin shot a 178, while Neenan scored a 181.

Both Lampasas Lady Badger teams finished first and second in the standings.

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CAPTION: Burnet golfers Avery Gowin (left) and Cambria Neenan will play in the Class 4A Region III tournament April 17-18. Courtesy photo