By Brian Argabright
The 830 Times
Del Rio’s Isaac Diaz gave it his all and finished as one of the top 25 golfers in the state.
Diaz, a sophomore at Del Rio High School, shot a two-day 145 to finish tied for 19th overall at the Class 6A Boys State Golf Tournament held Monday and Tuesday.
Diaz was in good position after Monday’s round. He shot a 1-under 71. He birded the second hole but took a double bogey on the par-3 second hole. He would bounce back with a birdie on the fifth hole and closed out the first nine holes with pars on the next four holes.
He started the back nine with birdies on holes 10 and 12 to go to 2-under, but his bogey on 17 left him at one-under for the day.
Tuesday’s round started with four straight pars to open the front nine before he scored a birdie on the par-4 fifth hole. He gave that stroke back on six with a bogey and then found himself 1-over after a bogey on eight. He closed out the front nine with a birdie on nine to head into the back nine at even par.
The back nine proved to be his undoing. He birdied 10 and 11 to go to 2-under, but then trouble hit as he bogied four of his next six holes to help finish the day with a 2-over, 74.
Diaz’s appearance at State capped another tremendous season for the young star who added to his trophy case with multiple tournament wins, a District 30-6A championship and a third place showing at the Class 6A-Region IV that sent him to his first state tournament.
A golf prodigy since his youth, Diaz hasn’t slowed down once he reached high school. He’s on the path to capture his second consecutive Male Golfer of the Year award from head coach Oscar Cardenas and would certainly be considered MVP of the district.
Cooper Paull of Conroe The Woodlands was the top golfer at state shooting rounds of 72 and 66 for a 138. Brooks Simmons of Dallas Highland Park was second with rounds of 69 and 71 for a 140. He finished tied for second with Reese Roberts of Dallas Jesuit College Prep but was awarded second place outright after winning the second playoff hole against Roberts.
As a team, Austin Lake Travis won gold with a two-day 570. Conroe The Woodlands took silver with a 575, and Houston Memorial took the bronze with a 576.
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Contact the author at drnhsports@gmail.com
