Golf notes: La Feria, Lyford, Raymondville sending contingent to 4A, 3A state golf tournaments

The La Feria golf program made history Tuesday afternoon after Andy Cortez and Isabel Prado qualified to the UIL 4A state golf tournament for the first time.

The boys tournament will be held May 22-23 at the Apple Rock Golf Course at HorseshoeBay in MarbleFalls. Meanwhile, the girls tournament will be held May 15-16 at Slick Rock Golf Course at HorseshoeBay in MarbleFalls as well.

On the girls side, Prado won the a bronze medal after shooting a 79 on Day 1 and an 82 on Day 2 for a two-day total of 161.

“Isabel had two goals this year,” said La Feria head golf coach David Briones. “Her first was to get a college scholarship and the second was to make it to the state tournament. She accomplished both. The best part about it was beating a girl that kept her from state the past few years.”

On the boys side, Cortez and Raymondville’s James Alfaro both qualified for state.

Cortez shot an opening-round 73 and a 77 on Day 2. Meanwhile, Alfaro shot a 76 on his first day and a 74 on the second.

Alfaro and Cortez both finished with a two-day total of 150, one shot under the eventual first-place winner, who won with a 149.

In the end, Cortez, Alfaro and one other individual from Gonzales played a three-way playoff hole that saw Alfaro win the second-place medal and Cortez finished in fourth but still advanced as one of the top three individuals not on a qualifying team.

For Alfaro, this is his second consecutive time advancing to the state tournament.

“I am extremely proud of James and the legacy he will leave behind,” said Raymondville head coach Steve Cantu. “He missed out on going to state his sophomore year when the tournament was called after Day 1 due to rain because he was just two strokes behind.

“The next two years after that disappointment will be a story that I will gladly repeat to anyone who asks about that Alfaro kid from Raymondville. I’m glad I was along for the ride.”

On the 3A boys side, Lyford’s Jacob Serna will also be heading north to compete in the state tournament as the senior placed second at regionals after shooting a first-round 77 and a second-round 78.

The 3A state tournament will be held on May 22-23 at the Grey Rock Golf Course in Austin.