South Texas Junior Golf Classic tees off

PALM VALLEY - Brandon Reyna and Matthew Cadriel are in pretty good shape after day one of the 26th South Texas Junior Golf Classic.
The two Valley golfers took advantage of a hot but nice Saturday morning as they cruised to matching 2-under par, 70 scores at Harlingen Country Club to lead a solid group of golfers.
"I felt confident out there," said Reyna, a Sharyland product. "It got a little hot there in the back nine but you have to stay tough. I got a few bogeys but I hit my fairways and greens. And that's the key to playing good on this course."
And Reyna should know.
The Mission golfer claimed the STJGC championship two years ago.
He missed it last year after undergoing wrist surgery.
But he's back and hopeful he can claim his second title.
"I'm pretty pleased (with how I played)," Reyna said. "I wish I had finished stronger, but overall I played decent."
Reyna carded four birdies and one eagle on the day to go along with four bogeys.
Reyna and Cadriel lead Weslaco's Kalen Vos by one stroke.
Vos was the only other under par golfer on Saturday with a 1-under par, 70.
Ruben Jimenez from Corpus Christi shot even par 72 for fourth place.
Vos and Jimenez both played in the 15-year-old age group. Cadriel and Reyna played with the 16- to 18-year-old group.
McAllen's Ethan Cowart played with the 14-year-old group and is in fifth place with a 73.
Defending champion Adam Haley from Edinburg is tied for seventh with a 75.
Weslaco's Elizabeth Hovda leads the girls' flight with a low-round 77.
Edinburg's Jessica Tamen was third with a 78 and Houston's Christina Cantu was third with an 81.
Two-time defending girls champion Felicia Espericueta from Edinburg didn't participate in this year's tournament.
If Reyna holds on to the boys' lead, he could become the first two-time champion since Refugio's T.R. Repka did it in consecutive years from 2002-03.
Former Edinburg golfer Albert Ochoa also won in consecutive years from 1994-95.
More than 100 golfers took part in the 26th junior classic.

STJGC results
Saturday
Harlingen Country Club
GIRLS 15 & UP
Lizzy Hovda, Weslaco, 40-37-77
Jessica Tamen, Edinburg, 39-39-78
Christina Cantu, Houston, 41-40-81
Sara Jane Hughes, San Antonio, 43-43-86
Olivia Tamen, Edinburg, 45-44-89
Brandy Rivera, McAllen, 46-44-90
Angela Luna, Weslaco, 47-48-95
Jessica Crouse, Los Fresnos, 46-49-95
Adela Elizondo, Harlingen, 50-46-96
Priscilla Nevarez, Pharr, 52-49-101
Ashley Rivera, McAllen, - 54-50-104
Angela Rafac, Rancho Viejo, 50-58-108
GIRLS 14 & UNDER
Christine Campbell, Austin, 40-40-80
Sofia Pullen, Brownsville, 43-48-91
Sabina Pena, McAllen, 50-45-95
Mattie Rowe, Harlingen, 68-67-135
BOYS OVERALL
Brandon Reyna, Mission, 38-32-70
Mathew Cadriel, Brownsville, 34-36-70
Kalen Vos, Weslaco, 35-36-71
Ruben Jimenez, Corpus Christi, 37-35-72
Ethan Cowart, McAllen, 34-39-73
Anthony Milligan, Harlingen, 36-38-74
Adam Haley, Edinburg, 36-39-75
J.Lakota Lucio, Brownville, 35-40-75
Papito Gonzalez, McAllen, 36-39-75
Scott Stark, San Antonio, 39-36-75
Roman Robledo, Harlingen, 38-38-76
J.P. Cordova, Mission, 39-38-77
Vance Edwards, Corpus Christi, 38-39-77
Derrick Salinas, Edinburg, 37-41-78
Chad King, Harlingen, 39-40-79
Mathew Ledesma, Harlingen, 42-37-79
Paul Campbell, Austin, 41-38-79
Garrison Lackey, Weslaco, 41-39-80
Justin Esparza, Edinburg, 41-39-80
Ryan Hollander, Brownsville, 41-39-80
Jaboney Rodriguez, Edinburg, 42-39-81
Jerry Flores, Mission, 43-38-81
Evan Linn, Harlingen, 41-41-82
Jeffery Swearingen, Woodlands, 43-40-83
Jeff Hoover, Rancho Viejo, 42-42-84
Justin Garza, La Feria, 41-43-84
Christian Rocha, Edinburg, 40-45-85
John Strange, Austin, 42-43-85
John Vega, McAllen, 43-42-85
Robert Garza, Edinburg, 42-43-85
Scott Van Tilburg, Weslaco, 44-41-85
Aaron Ramon, Mission, 45-42-87
Victor Martinez, McAllen, 46-41-87
Gabriel Flores, San Antonio, 42-46-88
Baldo Salinas, Mission, 42-47-89
Cody Baker, Sugarland, 42-47-89
Hunter McIntosh, Georgetown, 44-45-89
Rogue Leal, Brownsville, 41-48-89
Albert Silva, McAllen, 47-43-90
Alec Amador, McAllen, 43-47-90
Matthew Fox, Mission, 44-47-91
Rocco Cantu, Harlingen, 51-45-96
Michael Fasci, San Manuel, 46-51-97
D.J. Nash, La Fayette, Colo.. 48-51-99
Raymond Guerrero, Rio Hondo, 51-49-100
David Pryor, Harlingen, 53-48-101
Eric Silva, McAllen, 50-51-101
Ray Rowell, McAllen, 49-52-101
Marc Pena, Mission, 51-51-102
BOYS 13 & UNDER
Stratton Nolen, Austin, 38-39-77
Tanner Springfield, 42-41-83
James Alfaro, Raymondville, 42-43-85
Hector Butista, Mission, 43-44-87
C.J. Marines, Weslaco, 45-43-88
Colin Eubanks, 51-42-93
Jon Ybarra, Mission, 48-47-95
Jose Pena, McAllen, 45-50-95
Justo Gonzalez Jr., Brownsville, 57-51-108
Ryan Carey, 55-55-110
Joseph Rafac, Rancho Viejo, 55-56-111
Kyler Florence, 59-53-112
Zack Ramon, Mission, 59-53-112
Jason Rafac, Rancho Viejo, 59-58-117
J.M. Cordova, Mission, 61-59-120
Drake McIntosh, Georgetown, 68-67-135
9-HOLERS
Jacob Serna, Lyford, 50--50
Hannah Greer, Harlingen, 54--54
Robert Jimenez, Corpus Christi, 55--55
Anika Hovda, Weslaco, 56--56
Christina Pullen, Brownsville, 58--58
Mariana Garcia, Brownsville, 59--59
Kade Florence, Harlingen, 61--61
Jonathan Rodriquez, Lyford, 62--62