Rain holds El Campo tournament to nine
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Watch It Fly Chris Quinn keeps an eye on the ball as it sails toward the hole Monday.

The Ricebirds claimed their home course in El Campo's boys golf tournament, though they are not too happy about it.

Rain and thunder canceled the event after nine holes. The 'Birds' leading 170 score was enough to finish first, but not enough to meet expectations.

"We've still got some scoring we need to get better at," James Harp, El Campo's golf coach, said. "Especially on our home course, I'm not real pleased with a couple of scores, but that's the way it is. We'll take the win. They defended their home turf."

El Campo's highest individual achievement went to Cullen Pickett who tied for second with 39 but took third after a scorecard playoff. He fell to Bay City's Brian Kauffman who had a better showing on the first hole. Lamar Consolidated's Johnathon Ortega won the event.

Individually, El Campo had three finish in the top 10. Chris Quinn and Jordan McClain joined Pickett near the top. If the Ricebirds want to compete on the district level, however, improvement is necessary.

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Carry On, Colton Colton Kallina finished the tournament's nine holes with a 49 for the event.

The rain may have forced any Ricebirds who got off to a slow start but were finishing strong to submit high scores. Harp said, however, cutting the tournament in half is irrelevant when measuring success.

"Some were playing better on the back and once they loosened up (they could have been better)," the coach said. "Honestly, they had no excuse this morning. They had good playing conditions, really. This could happen in a district tournament, regional tournament or state tournament, to where you might get nine holes in and that's it. It could be called a tournament at really any given time.

"So, if you struggled early today, you better learn not to. Realistically, if any individual were to get out and go to region, you can't have a bad nine. You've got to play well from the get-go. I guess you want to call it learning experience or whatever it is. We don't really make excuses, you've got to play."

The limited time on the course could have prevented the Ricebirds from getting a good look at district competition. Foster finished second as a team, but was unable to earn an individual topfive placing while Lamar and Bay City surprised some people with their showings.

"I don't know if, because of the nine holes, that we got to see the whole aspect of it," Harp said. "I think we saw a little bit. Foster is missing a few players, and that's not in our control or their's, through discipline problems. (With) the couple of players that they don't have this year, their team is weakened.

"The individuals from Lamar stepped up today and showed us that they can play some good golf. We have kids that have potential to play well. For them to get out of district and for us to compete at district, they have to play well or we're not going to advance or individually, they're not going to advance."

Monday's tournament may not have shown any specific signs of what to expect come the April 1 and 2 district tournament, but Harp said he still expects intense competition.

"It's still going to be tough, regardless (of how) we look at Foster," Harp said. "We need to look at Lamar. Seven Lakes is still there (and) their A team and B team. Bay City, today, had an individual who showed that he can play. The thing is, those are all outside agencies that we have no control on.

"What we have control on is how well we play. That's what our players have to understand. 'If I'm going to make it and I'm going to succeed, I'm going to do my job. We can't worry about the other schools. We better take care of our business and everything will be fine.'"

The following is a list of El Campo's achievements at Monday's tournament of seven teams and 45 individuals.

Team Standings

1. El Campo Varsity, 170; 2. Foster, 180; 3. Bay City, 180; 4. Wharton, 190; . Angleton, 194; 6. Columbia, 197; 7. Sweeny, 222; 7. El Campo Sub-Varsity, 231.

El Campo Individuals

3. Pickett, 39; 4. Quinn, 41; 10. McClain, 45; 11. Trey Krpec, 45; 26 Tie. Colton Kallina, 49; 26 Tie. Tanner Howard, 49; 35. Nick Gutierrez, 57; 36. Jack Cochran, 58; 43. Coy Radley, 67; 44. Radley Jones, 68.