NMMI Sports Press
ALBUQUERQUE—The Colt golf team completed the 2023 season Tuesday at the NMAA Class A-3A State Championship with a fourth-place team finish and sophomore Mason Hicks finished in the top 10 individually.
Hicks shot a 90 on Monday and bounced back with an 85 in the second round to finish 9th overall at 175.
Junior Tom Aspinall improved on his first-round score by 15 strokes with an 85 to finish in a three-way tie for 17th place with a 185.
Junior Santiago Perez cut two strokes off his first-round 94 and finished one stroke behind Aspinall in a three-way tie for 20th at 186.
Junior Steven Griego finished 26th with a 194 and junior Juan Isas ended up tied for 32nd at 207.
Head coach Randy Doerhoefer said his young team struggled, especially in the opening round, but gained valuable experience and mostly improved as the tournament progressed.
“This is our first time, a lot of jitters, a lot of unknowns, but they’ll learn from this about how to handle their nerves and handle a golf course itself,” he said. “The putting was difficult for them out here and we lost a lot of shots around the greens.”
The former Bronco golf coach that took two teams to nationals said he saw a lot of encouraging things from his players throughout the season.
“We have a lot of talented guys on this team,” Doerhoefer said. “Thomas played really well on the back nine today. Juan has improved a lot and will continue to work on his game. And Mason has the potential to be really great, like his brother (Bronco golfer Jackson Hicks).”
Hicks and Perez were participating in their seventh day of state competition since Wednesday of last week when they began the state tennis tourney.
The tournament was dominated by Mesilla Valley Christian School from Las Cruces. The SonBlazers won the team championship by 77 strokes, took the top three places individually, and all five Mesilla players finished in the top eight.
Rigo Regalado, from district-rival Dexter, finished fourth with a 164.
Doerhoefer enjoyed traveling and getting to know his Colts over the past couple months.
“They’re a great bunch of kids, I had a lot of fun with ‘em,” he said. “Some of these guys are a long way from home and they need a parental figure around as well as a golf coach. Hopefully I set a good example for them and they eventually leave here with a good experience.”
Doerhoefer said the future is bright for NMMI golf, at both the high school and junior college level, as well as in Roswell in general.
“I thought it was encouraging to see how many kids tried out for golf at all the Roswell schools,” he explained. “I have a great staff that really know a lot about golf and it’s great to see these young people out playing and enjoying some great weather.”