Rebels capture first district title since 2007
ODESSA – The Legacy boys golf team knew that if it wanted to win a District 2-6A title, it would have to out-play perennial strong team Wolfforth Frenship.
The Rebels did just that on Thursday at Odessa Country Club as LHS shot a 313 to overcome a two-shot deficit after the first round to finish seven strokes ahead of Frenship for the school’s first district title in boys golf since 2007.
LHS finished with a 322-313—635 total, while Frenship finished with a 320-322—642. Odessa Permian was third with a 668 as the Panthers had the second-best round of the day with a 318.
“The kids played awesome today,” LHS coach Wes Overton said. “I couldn’t be more proud of everybody. They gutted it out. It started to get a little windy toward the end, but we had one goal in mind and that was to win first, and they did it. They put their head down and got the job done.”
Added LHS sophomore Drew Ironside: “I think winning this tournament was huge. Our mindset was pretty good and I think all of our games were in the right shape for this tournament.”
The title for the Rebels also means that they qualified for the Region I-6A Tournament for the second straight year after snapping a 14-year drought with last year’s qualification. The tournament will be held April 18-19 at Tangle Ridge Golf Club in Grand Prairie.
While the Rebels had golfers with experience from last year, Overton said it would have been tough to predict that they had what it took to win district this year.
“Frenship has been so dominant for so long, and they’re still good,” Overton said. “They had a bad couple of days and we had a good couple of days, that’s the way it goes. You’re always hoping you win district and sometimes you can’t get it done, but the guys made it happen. My hat’s off to them. Frenship has got a talented bunch and they always do and they always will, but today belongs to us. We’re pretty excited about that.”
LHS was led by the sophomore duo Kellen Young and Ironside. Young finished as the runner-up medalist as he finished three shots behind Permian’s Chase Williams with a 153 total. Ironside finished in third with a 155 total.
“It’s pretty cool, I didn’t think was even going to medal after the first day. But the second day I think we all played pretty well,” Young said. “I was just hitting more greens and was being smarter, I guess. I also did a better job of making putts than I did (on Wednesday).”
Ironside said the way he played on the back nine was key for his performance.
“My driver was key and I was hitting fairways, allowing me to hit greens and get a lot of birdie putts,” he said.
The Rebels will next turn their attention to the regional tournament where they hope their experience from last year pays off.
“I feel good. Our game is in the right shape and I think we can make a run at regionals,” Ironside said. “The key will be the same thing here; keep grinding, be patient and let the birdie putts fall. It was huge getting to go last year. It was a great experience as a freshman and it was pretty nerve-racking, but with a lot more experience I think we can play pretty well.”
Added Young: “It was great getting to go last year and now I get to spend time in the hotel with these guys and it should be fun.”
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District 2-6A Boys Golf Championship
At Odessa Country Club
Thursday’s round results
*Denotes Region I-6A qualifier
Team standings – 1. *Legacy I 322-313—635; 2. *Wolfforth Frenship 320-322—642; 3. Odessa Permian I 350-318—668; 4. San Angelo Central 341-340—681; 5. Frenship II 347-334—681; 6. Abilene High I 349-354—703; 7. Odessa High I 360-349—709; 8. Legacy II 364-356—720; 9. Permian II 367-387—754; 10. Odessa High II 404-383—787; 11. Abilene High II 428-377—805; 12. Midland High 435-407–842
Medalist standings – 1. *Chase Williams, Permian I, 82-68—150; 2. Kellen Young, Legacy, 81-72—153; 3. Drew Ironside, Legacy, 78-77—155; 4. Leyton Hiebert, Frenship, 82-76—158; 5. Jathan Reed, Frenship, 73-86—159; 6. *Brooks Vaughn, Central, 76-85—161; 7. (tie) Hunter Welch, Frenship, 81-81—162; Palmer Stephens, Frenship II, 81-81—162; 9. Brayden Katilus, Frenship II, 86-77—163; Charles Cernoch, Odessa High, 86-77–163
Team by team results
Legacy I (322-313–635) – Kellen Young 81-72–153, Drew Ironside 78-77–155, Spencer Widner 79-86–165, Zachary Fieldhouse 84-89–173, Fred Poe 92-78–170
Wolfforth Frenship (320-322–642) – Rex Newsom 85-79–164, Hunter Welch 81-81–162, Leyton Hiebert 82-76–158, Jathan Reed 73-86–159, Lane Monroe 84-89—173
Odessa Permian I (350-318–668) – Chase Williams 82-68–150, Alan Martinez 90-83–173, Lucas Hagen 92-85–177, Ethan Tavarez 98-98–196, Rylan Montana 86-82–168
San Angelo Central (341-340–681) – Brooks Vaughn 76-85–161, Mason Kainbach 86-85–171, Cullen Honea 91-94–185, Aiden Barron 93-93–186, Miguel Flores-Acton 88-77–165
Frenship II (347-334–681) – Brayden Katilus 86-77–163, Palmer Stephens 81-81–162, Hunter Gossett 85-84–169, Reagon Rainey 95-95–190, Eli McCalib 98-92–190
Abilene High I (349-354–703) – Koller Lackey 78-88–166, Jett Voss 86-85–171, Aaron Anglin 97-93–190, Jack Allan Flores 101-92–193, Alan Mercer 88-89–177
Odessa High I (360-349–709) – Charles Cernoch 86-77–163, Aden Vasquez 83-91–174, Cooper Aranda 91-83–174, Josh Galvadon 103-100–203, Dillon Nabarrette 100-100–200
Legacy II (364-356–720) – Ryan Caudle 90-80–170, Zane Poe 92-99–191, Gavin Poe 96-95–191, Dylan Bowerman 88-82–170, Mark Barriga 94-102–196
Permian II (367-387–754) – Miguel Padilla 93-99–192, Roger Giba 94-83–177, Parker Presky 90-103–193, Kyler Warner 90-104–194, Cameron Clark 96-102–198
Odessa High II (404-383–787) – Robert Murray 96-86–182, Noel Hinojos 96-98–194, Blake Dickson 104-93–197, Ivan Lujan 108-106–214
Abilene High II (428-377–805) – Dylan Moncibais 98-93–189, John Miles Wagstaff 109-90–199, Maddox Brock 96-85–181, Brodey Barylak 127-120–147, Branson Corder 132-109–241
Midland High (435-407–842) – Alec Young 90-85–175, Trenton Ketcherside 106-106–212, Brayden Leavenworth 115-106–221, Nathan Barela 124-110–234
