Mother nature definitely played a major factor during the boys UIL state golf tournament not allowing teams to get the full 36-hole experience in the Austin-area Monday and Tuesday.
With the inclement weather in play, the UIL was forced to use Monday’s scores for certain classifications with the heavy rains cancelling Tuesday’s action.
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Class 1A was one of those classes that was impacted as the UIL had to cancel the final 18-holes Tuesday at the Crystal Falls Golf Course in Leander. With that being said, Wildorado had a great opening round Monday finishing with a team score of 337 to capture the Class 1A state team championship by 10 strokes over D’Hanis (349).
The Mustangs have been quite the golf power of late capturing the programs second state title in the last three years. Wildorado won its first UIL team golf championship in 2023, was a state runner-up last year, and are now two-time state champions.
“These guys have put in the work to get back on top this year,” Wildorado golf coach Kellan Kirkland said. “We didn’t shoot our best score but having to deal with a long delay and tough conditions, I thought these guys did an amazing job of going out there and playing their best. I’m so proud of these guys and I’m glad they get to call themselves state champions again.”
Hunter Corman paced the Mustangs shooting a 2-over-par 74 to place second individually due to a scorecard playoff. Corman, a junior, was solid throughout his round carding two birdies on the front nine and a birdie on 18 to close out his day.
Teammate Drew Ratliff had placed in the top 20 coming in tied 17th with an 86. Will Vance was 23rd with an 87, Brayden Sides placed 27th shooting a 90 and Cash Flowers came in 35th scoring a 93.
Wildorado wasn’t the only Texas Panhandle team or individual making noise in Austin.
Texline’s Bo Bradley completed an unbelievable golf season by capturing the UIL Class 1A individual gold medal championship. Bradley fired a 2-over-par 74 to tie with Corman but after a scorecard playoff, Bradley was named the individual champion.
Bradley, a freshman and the grandson of high-profile Texline boys’ basketball coach Coby Beckner, had a strong finish to his round Monday birding three of his last six holes.
Bradley ends the year as a district, Region I-1A and state champion.
“Bo had a great finish to his round,” said Beckner, who also serves as Texline’s golf coach. “After a three-hour rain delay he was able to stay with and finish out with some big-time birdies. As his coach, I’m so proud, but I’m prouder being his grandfather. He brings the juice to Texline.”
Booker’s Chase Nelson also placed in the top 10 shooting an 82 to place ninth.
State golf quick hits
UIL Class 4A was able to get all 36-holes in playing the final 18 on Tuesday. The Randall Raiders played superb golf coming in fourth overall as a team with a two-day total of 626. The Raiders were only two strokes from medaling coming up short to Mabank, which fired a 36-hole round of 624. Bridgeport was the Class 4A team champion with an impressive 590 over the two days. Individually, Jack Lankford led Randall tying for fourth with a 2-over-par 147. Lankford shot a 73 during Monday’s opening round and then a 74 on Tuesday. Teammate Madden Myers also placed in the top 10 coming in eighth overall. The freshman shot an opening round 2-under-par 70 followed by a 79 on Tuesday.
Like most of the classes, UIL Class 2A was called after Monday’s 18 holes. Farwell was able to come home with a couple of individual highlights with Cooper Nichols shooting an even-par 72. Nichols had five birdies on his round. Nichols teammate Braddock Foster placed ninth overall with a 2-over-par 74.
The Tascosa Rebels didn’t have the tournament they were expecting. The Rebels only got one round in during the UIL Class 5A meet and that was Monday as Tascosa finished 11th overall with a team score of 323. Slayde Stevens had the low score for Tascosa firing a 76 to place 17th individually.