KC girls golf team takes second

FARMINGTON

Buoyed by a state runner-up finish from freshman Hayden Dan, the Kirtland Central girls golf team were chasing heavily favorite Albuquerque Academy for the Class 4A state crown.

And for the second consecutive year, the Broncos came up short in their state title quest as Academy captured its fifth consecutive championships late Tuesday afternoon at Pinon Hills Golf Course in Farmington.

“As always, I’m proud of my girls,” first-year KC girls coach Judith Camacho said. “I’m proud of them for making their shots and I’m proud of them for finishing a round because sometimes it feels impossible when you’re hitting terribly, but every shot counts and seeing them get through it brings joy to my heart.”

Academy, which fielded five players, had its top four golfers finished with a combined score of 673 while the Broncos tallied 710 as the KC team consists Hayden Dan and juniors Makayla Manus, Haylee Nocki and Dallas Dan. The Camacho-coached team capped the two-day state tournament with a two-stroke lead over Lovington, the third-place team.

“We were close and I see potential next year,” said Camacho, who is graduate of KC. “I hope this inspires more players to come out and give golf a try, not only for my team, but with any other team within this area.”

Individually, Hayden was chasing four-time state champ Rylee Salome. The Belen High senior finished with a score of 144 with Hayden trailing five strokes back.

“Rylee is a really good player and I had to get four-under to beat her today,” Hayden said. “I’m proud of her (because) she’s really good.”

Still, the KC freshman had some high expectations as she trailed Salome, who signed with New Mexico State University, by one stroke after the first 18 holes entering Tuesday’s round.

“In the beginning of the round, I did good,” Hayden. “I got one-under (but) in the back nine I missed a putt, and it went downhill, and I couldn’t get back up.”

She missed a par putt in the 14th hole, which affected the rest of her rounds.

“On my next hole, I had a good drive, but then I chipped it short and missed my putt,” Hayden said. “I feel like it got into my head, and I didn’t get back up.”

On Monday, Hayden explained that everything was working well for her except her putting. She continued to struggle in that aspect on Tuesday afternoon.

“I did practice it (putting) a lot this morning, but I just couldn’t get in the back nine,” Hayden said, while noting that on Monday she made a handful of birdie putts on the first day of competition.

“I had to do a lot of chip shots, but I did have a chip to save par,” she said of Tuesday’s round of golf.

And although she struggled with her putts, Hayden managed to beat out third-place finisher Adelyn Haas as the Academy sophomore finished three strokes back at 152.

“I see Hayden winning a state title,” Camacho said. “She was really close this year and obviously this sport is very difficult, and I don’t blame her, but I do see her pushing herself and improving herself in the years to come.”

Hayden’s older sister, Dallas, opened the state tournament with a 78 on Monday but she had some difficulties as she carded an 89 for 167. Manus finished four shots back at 173 while Nocki tallied 221.

“I’m so proud of Haylee because she just started golf recently,” Hayden said of her teammate. “She’s shooting around 110 and that’s very good for (someone playing golf for) a semester.”

The KC coach was equally impressed with Nocki as her participation helped the Broncos to a runner-up finish.

“Haylee helps so much, and she’s grown up since seeing her on the JV team,” Camacho said. “When I saw her first shot, I was like there could be potential if she keeps working. Obviously, she is the one that hits the shot, and she’s the one who putts the shots, but she would listen to my advice.

“Again, I’m proud of every one of these girls,” she added. “I can’t say enough about how happy I am with our second-place finish, especially with the rollercoaster of a day we had.”

5A, 1/3A tournaments

At San Juan Country Club, Piedra Vista senior Annie Yost won back-to-back state crowns at the 5A level. Yost, who signed with Florida Golf Coast, capped her senior season with a tournament-best 137 after shooting rounds of 71 and 66, which is nine-under at the Farmington golf course.

Behind Yost, the Lady Panthers captured the team state crown for the second year in a row.

At Riverview Golf Course in Kirtland, N.M., the Pine Hill girls golf team carded a 929 as the Warriors made some vast improvements on the second day of the competition.

Pine Hill opened the tournament at 482 and on Tuesday they had a much better outing by scoring 447 as the Warriors returned one veteran from last year’s squad in senior Lailah Charley.

The rest of the team consists of Kirri Smith, Robbieanna Coho, Arianna Gordo and Tadilynn Moody.

“They weren’t playing their par, they weren’t playing their game,” Pine Hill coach Sharon Yazzie-Henio said. “They were playing the other players’ game and it really got to them emotionally.

“You could see their frustrations out there and we knew it was the emotional part of the game,” she added. “And they had to let it go.”

Pine Hill assistant coach Robia Adeky-Wood added that the pressure of them playing at state played a role.

“I think the mentality of being here at state got to them,” Adeky-Wood said. “They were starting to compare themselves to the other players and that is how they got frustrated, so coach talked to them and told them it’s between you and the ball.”

That pep talk worked as both coaches noticed a difference in their demeanor for Tuesday’s round.

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