Gonzalez wins playoff to advance to state

McALLEN — Papito Gonzalez sat in the shade of a tree waiting to tee off on the 17th hole staring at the ground. The McAllen Memorial golfer’s demeanor was not one of a state qualifier.

With last year’s qualifier Roman Robledo surging, Gonzalez’s bid for the state tournament looked questionable. He only parred one hole on the front nine and finished six-over 78 on Thursday, the final day of the Region IV-5A tournament at Palm View Golf Course, but beat Harlingen South’s Robledo in a three-hole playoff to advance to state for the first time.

“I just couldn’t get a rhythm on the front nine,” Gonzalez said. “On the back nine, I turned it around.”

Gonzalez’s three birdies on the back nine were good enough to help him tie for fourth place with Robledo, who shot a tournament-best 69 on Thursday. Both shot an eight-over 152 for the tournament.

Because the region’s top two golfers, San Antonio Reagan’s Tyler Bumpass (145) and San Antonio Churchill’s Kasen Schneider (148), were on the first- and second-place teams, respectively, the next two individuals advance to state.

San Antonio Johnson’s Christian De La Cruz (150) finished third and took one spot, leaving Robledo and Gonzalez in a playoff.

They both bogeyed the 10th hole and then parred the 14th. On the 18th, Robledo’s chip from the edge of the bunker to the green was short, forcing an extra shot for par.

Gonzalez’s approach landed on the green and two shots later he birdied the par-5 hole, sending him to state.

“I’m looking forward to state,” Gonzalez said. “It was such an honor being in a playoff with Roman. He’s such a great player.”

Last year Robledo advanced to state despite playing with a heavy heart as his mother was dying of cancer. She passed away just days after the 2010 regional tournament.

Robledo could have easily punched his second ticket to state if not for an 83 on Wednesday.

“(Wednesday), was just a big shock to me,” Robledo said. “That was my worst round (of my high school career).”

McAllen High (649) entered the final round in second but faded to place sixth. Sharyland (645) beat Harlingen South (645) in a playoff to take third.

Peter Rasmussen covers high school sports for Valley Freedom Newspapers. You can reach him at (956) 683-4448 or via e-mail at prasmussen@themonitor.com.

Region IV-5A Tournament

Palm View Golf Course, McAllen

Final Round

Team Results

1. Reagan, 305-309—614; 2. Churchill, 320-311—631; 3. Mission Sharyland, 328-317—645; 4. Harlingen South, 330-315—645; 5. Weslaco High, 328-320—648; 6. McAllen High, 312-337—649; 7. Corpus Christi Carroll, 321-330—651; 8. Corpus Christi King, 329-323—652; 9. Clark, 332-332—664; 10. Helotes O’Connor, 342-326—668; 11. Del Rio, 338-335—673; 12. Brownsville Hanna, 332-344—676; 13. Laredo United, 338-342—680; 14. San Marcos, 348-355—703; 15. New Braunfels, 350-353—703; 16. PSJA High, 354-357—711.

Individual Results

1, Tyler Bumpass, Reagan             73  72   — 145

2, Kasen Schneider, Churchill         76  72   — 148

3, Christian De La Cruz, Johnson   76  74   — 150

4, Papito Gonzalez, Mc. Memorial    74  78   — 152

5, Roman Robledo, South             83  69   — 152

6, Kalen Vos, Weslaco                    75  79   — 154

7, Chris Martinez, McAllen High       73  82   — 155

7, JT Caldarola, Clark                     78  77   — 155

7, Kyle Frances, Reagan                78  77   — 155

10, Trevis Loree, Reagan              74  82   — 156

10, Chris Schriedel, H. O’Connor    76  80   — 156

12, James Ragan, C.C. Carroll       77  80   — 157

12, Austin Davis, S.A. Brandeis       83  74   — 157

14, Matt Charles, C.C. Carroll         79  79   — 158

14, Jacob Kleiss, S.A. Reagan        80  78   — 158

16, Kyle Becker, Churchill                77  82   — 159

16, Jake Judkins, Johnson             78  81   — 159

16, Peter Fox, Sharyland                78  81   — 159

16, Scott Van Tilburg, Weslaco High 80 79   — 159

16, Matt Boettger, Sharyland          81  78   — 159

16, Vance Edwards, C.C. King       83  76   — 159

22, Archie Ramos, Laredo United   84  76   — 160

23, Adam Ortega, Los Fresnos       80  81   — 161

23, Cralos Pena, Sharyland            82  79   — 161

25, Efrain Rojas, Bro. Hanna          82  80   — 162

25, Arb Cauthorn, Del Rio              82  80   — 162

25, Garrison Lackey, Weslaco High 83  79   — 162

25, John Rafael, C.C. King            82  80   — 162

30, Ricky Solis, McAllen                   77  86   — 163

30, Ray Rowell, Mc. Memorial         81  82   — 163

30, Ian Davis, H. O’Connor            85  78   — 163

33, Kevin Mathis, San Marcos         80  84   — 164

33, Michael Fasci, Edinburg High    81  83   — 164

33, Justin Kitten, Harlingen South   82  82   — 164

33, Ed Kolovson, Churchill              86  78   — 164

37, Andy Olsen, Reagan                80  85   — 165

37, Rudy Muniz, PSJA High            83  82   — 165

37, Chad King, Harlingen South     83  82   — 165

37, Diego Baldwin, C.C. King         83  82   — 165

41, Neel Ahuja, C.C. King              81  85   — 166

42, Alan Alanis, McAllen High          82  84   — 166

43, Edwin Hyslop, Del Rio              84  82   — 166

44, Sammie Goldfarb, Judson         85  81   — 166

45, Francisco Guerra, San Benito   86  80   — 166

46, Jon Ybarra, Sharyland              87  79   — 166

47, Nathan Bomba, C.C. Carroll     82  85   — 167

48, Scott  Peerman, Churchill          84  83   — 167

49, Blake Besson, New Braunfels   79  89   — 168

50, Victor Sandoval, Harlin. South   82  86   — 168

51. Juan Flores, Bro. Hanna          81  88   — 169

52, Jeremy Gordon, Clark               83  86   — 169

53, Steve Trujillo, C.C Carroll          83  86   — 169

54, Jose Carlos Elizondo, Hanna    84  85   — 169

55, Shrey Bhakta, Harlingen South 87  82   — 169

56, Ben Lira, Laredo United           88  81   — 169

57, Robert Bernal, McAllen High     80  90   — 170

58, Andrew Gold, Clark                  85  85   — 170

59, Zac Weese, Stevens                91  81   — 172

60, Jose Pena, Sharyland              87  86   — 173

61, Mike Hernandez, McAllen High  88  85   — 173

62, Landon Jiral, San Marcos         90  83   — 173

63, Mark Gutierrez, Del Rio             86  88   — 174

64, Albert Rodriguez, Del Rio         86  88   — 174

65, Michael Sondag, Del Rio          89  85   — 174

66, Trevor Colen, Clark                  90  84   — 174

67, Calvin lackey, Weslaco high      91  83   — 174

68, Brian Gates, Laredo United      82  93   — 175

69, David Rodriguez, Economedes 86  89   — 175

70, Leo Hernandez, Laredo United 84 92   — 176

71, Jesse Acosta, San Marcos        84  93   — 177

72, Carlos Acevedo, Bro. Hanna    85  92   — 177

73, Aldo Izazi, PSJA High                88  89   — 177

74, Chandler Berryhill, C.C. King     84  94   — 178

75, Daniel Venegas, Eagle Pass     89  89   — 178

76, Ryan Hollander, Bro. Hanna    88  91   — 179

77, Gabe Valdez, Weslaco High     90  89   — 179

78, John Cooper, Judson              91  88   — 179

79, Tyler Bercher, Clark                  86  94   — 180

80, Michael Rodriguez, N. Braunfels 90 90   — 180

81, Troy Hunt, New Braunfels        93  87   — 180

82, Cody Dees, New Braunfels      93  87   — 180

83, Daniel Hinojosa, C.C. King       86  97   — 183

84, Corbin Jureski, H. O’Connor     96  88   — 184

85, Alec Sauceda, PSJA High         86  99   — 185

86, Domingo Zamarripa, Carroll      97  89   — 186

87, Tyler Hernandez, PSJA High     98  89   — 187

88, Mitchell Roberts, San Marcos    94  95   — 189

89, Luke Euresti, C.C. Carroll         92  80   — 190

90, Joseph Montalvo, PSJA High    97  97   — 194

91, Mario Tamez, Laredo United  106  96   — 202

92, Brnadon Walker, San Marcos  109  80   — 207

93, Luke Begwin, Laredo Alexander 84 80      NS

94, James Keener, H. O’Connor     85 DQ      NS

95, Hunter Lightsey, N. Braunfels   88 DQ      NS

96, J.C. Stoddard, H. O’Connor    WD  80      NS