By Brian Argabright
Del Rio’s path to the state girls golf tournament won’t be an easy one, but overcoming challenges has been the team’s theme throughout this year.
The four-person team travels to McAllen this weekend to play in the Class 6A, Region IV Girls Golf Tournament beginning Monday at the Palm View Golf Course. Del Rio Head Golf Coach Oscar Cardenas said this is the first time this season the team will play on the course, so they’ll play a practice round Sunday and make the necessary adjustments then.
Tee time Monday is set for 8 a.m.
This year’s Queens team is comprised of three juniors – Mia Grace Paredes, Leanna Galindo and Lorena Torres – and sophomore Joelda Alcaraz. The team finished second at the District 30-6A Girls Golf Tournament in Laredo in March behind Laredo Alexander. Cardenas said that while the majority of the team has played together for three seasons, the San Felipe Del Rio CISD’s COVID precautions made it difficult to play at full strength at district.
“First, we didn’t play well because we were leaving here at 3 a.m., traveling and then getting off the bus and playing. It’s a big drive for three hours and it takes a toll on your body to tee off at 8:30, 8:45 a.m. We struggled that first day, but played much better the second day,” Cardenas said.
Travel and a lack of familiarity with the McAllen course aren’t the only challenges facing the Queens. The weather for the two days of competition is expected to be windy and rainy, adding another level of difficulty for the teams involved.
Then come the teams that will be competing against Del Rio. Region IV extends from Austin to Brownsville. Many of those teams Del Rio has not competed against this season due to a lack of travel caused by COVID. The goal for the Queens will be to finish among the top three teams and qualify for the state tournament. The top three individuals not attached to a regional qualifying team also qualifier for state.
“These girls didn’t play any last year due to COVID. That was a better team with the seniors that graduated, but now that these girls are juniors they’re still pretty good. They’ve got some good heads on their shoulders and I think overall they’re prepared,” Cardenas said. “My three girls that have been playing with me the last three years know what to expect. They know to play one shot at a time. They’ll get a better perspective Sunday on what clubs to hit and not to hit and that time on the course makes a big difference.”
