LA FERIA — With her scorecard already turned in, all La Feria’s Isabel Prado had to do was wait.
Despite the regional golf tournament being held almost a month ago, the senior can sill vividly recall agonizingly waiting for an hour to find out whether she qualified for her first trip to the UIL Class 4A girls state golf tournament, which tees off today at Slick Rock Golf Course at Horseshoe Bay in Marble Falls.
“All I can remember is crying first,” said Prado. “I wasn’t sure if I was going to make it because I had some confidence in myself, but I was afraid that some girl was going to kick me off of the final spot.
“I was just so nervous because people were already congratulating me before I had even qualified, but I was still crying because it hadn’t been official yet. It still hasn’t fully hit me yet. When I realized it was official, I ran and hugged my dad and started crying because I felt so accomplished because I had been working so hard for the past three years.”
The Marymount University commit qualified for state by shooting a two-day 161 at the Region IV-4A tournament. Prado shot an 82 on Day 2, but her opening-round 79 saved her.
The accomplishment wasn’t just big for Prado and her family, it was also a step in the right direction for the La Feria golf program.
“This has been a big year for us,” said La Feria golf head coach David Briones. “It was the first time we had a golf athlete sign a letter of intent and the first time we had two players make it to the state tournament (Andy Cortez qualified on the boy’s side). It’s definitely been a big year for us and it’s something that we can build on for the future.
“After coming close for the previous three years, this is something she (Prado) deserves. She’s come real close to making it to state only to be knocked out at the last minute. And even though she had to wait until the final minute to know if she was going this year, now it’s her turn to knock someone else out and take that place.”
