Valley golfers move on to state with individual qualifications

Monte Vista and Alamosa golfers come together for a photo op after the regional meet at HollyDot Golf Course in Colorado City on Tuesday. Pictured from left Gracie Burkhart, Rhiley Hacsi, Lora Ortega and Emma Gilmore. (Courtesy photo by Michelle Burkhart)

COLORADO CITY — Despite thick fog and inclement weather, prep golfers at HollyDot Course braved the conditions to shoot some regional golf. As teams Alamosa and Monte Vista placed fifth and sixth respectively.

Regional format qualifies two whole teams from each region meaning that neither valley team would qualify a whole team. However members from both squads were able to qualify individually.

Alamosa would qualify two girls Lora Ortega and Rhiley Hacsi and and a third was named as an alternate in Emma Gilmore. Lora Ortega qualified placing 8th overall with a 93. Ortega added one stroke to her total from last week going from 21 over to 22 over. It was a mixed bag for Ortega, she would increase the number of holes she achieved par or below on from three last week to five this week. But she continued to struggle with hole 12 going from a double bogey last week to four over this week which likely could have been attributed to the weather.

Hacsi would mirror her performance from last week shooting 97’s in both appearances at HollyDot. The Alamosa senior overcame a difficult start of a cumulative plus eight on her first two holes to take eleventh overall and qualify for state.

Bringing up the rear for the Moose was Emma Gilmore. Gilmore struggled on Monday going from last Friday’s 97 to a 109 and fell two spots out of the 13 individual qualifiers just missing a ticket to state.

Monte Vista’s Gracie Burkhart was unbothered by the conditions and rather than adding strokes she actually shaved a couple off going from an 89 last week to an 87 this week. Burkhart did it with the same level of consistency. Starting at hole one Burkhart blasted through the front 9, four strokes ahead of last week’s pace. With a fourth-place finish Burkhart was the lone Pirate to qualify for state.

Monte Vista’s Natalia Cendajas would finish tied for 24th place having shot a 110. But was three places out of qualification contention.

Up next for the girls will be the 3A Girls Golf State Championship. Monte Vista and Alamosa will advance to Eagle Ranch Golf Club in Eagle, Colo. The championship will take place on May 20-21 with the first groups teeing off at 8:30 a.m.