KIRTLAND – The Kirtland Central girls golf team left no doubt on its home turf Monday, sweeping the top three individual spots to secure the NMAA District 1-4A championship at Riverview Golf Course.
Meantime, the Aztec High boys team narrowly earned the District 1-4A title, topping Miyamura by a single stroke.
This will be the final meet of the season before teams hit the road next week for the New Mexico Activities Association’s state championship meet, which will take place Monday and Tuesday at New Mexico Tech Golf Course in Socorro.
Senior Dallas Dan led the charge for the Broncos girls team, firing a 1-over-par 73 to claim the individual district title. She was followed closely by teammate and sister Hayden Dan, a sophomore, who carded a 77 to take second place.
The Broncos’ dominance resulted in a team score of 330 (+42), comfortably outdistancing runner-up Aztec, which finished with a team total of 425. Gallup took third place with a 511.
Kirtland Central finished second in the Class 4A state tournament last year, losing to Albuquerque Academy. Hayden Dan finished second in the individual championship chase, losing by five shots to Belen’s Rylee Salome.
Kirtland Central’s depth was the story of the day. Beyond the Dan duo, senior Makayla Manus secured a podium finish for the Broncos, taking third place with an 86. Senior Haylee Nocki added a sixth-place finish with a 94 to round out the scoring for the district champions.
Aztec freshman Lexi Padilla broke up the Kirtland Central block at the top of the leaderboard, posting a 91 to finish in fourth place. Her teammate, Jordyn Thornburg, finished ninth with a 104.
Miyamura saw two golfers finish in the top 10, led by senior Lauren Cadman, who took fifth with a 93, followed by sophomore Peyton Tsinnijinnie in seventh with a 95.
Rounding out the top individual performances were Shiprock junior Madisen Duncan (103) in eighth and Gallup eighth-grader Rayea Edison (109) in 10th.
The Tigers finished with a team total of 361 (+73), just edging out the Patriots (362), while host Kirtland Central remained in the hunt to finish third with a 370.
Aztec’s victory was a testament to consistency across the card. Junior Braylon Phelps shared the low-round honors for the day, carding a 13-over-par 85 to finish in a tie for first place individually.
Senior Tyler Ray provided crucial support for the Tigers, finishing solo third with an 87. Senior Natthan Kennedy also secured a top-10 finish, placing eighth with a 93 to help seal the narrow victory.
The Patriots nearly pulled off the upset, led by senior Tucker Matkovich, who placed fourth with an 89. Miyamura’s Giovanni Arreguin and Zackery Maynerich both carded 90s to finish in a tie for fifth. Farlayn Thomas rounded out the Patriot leaders with a 93, tying for eighth.
Kirtland Central sophomore Brody Decker successfully defended his home course, matching Phelps for the best round of the tournament with an 85 to share the individual district lead. Freshman Taylor Roundy gave the Broncos another bright spot, finishing seventh with a 91.
Gallup junior Keanu Begay rounded out the top 10 individuals, shooting a 94 to finish 22-over-par.
Farmington High senior Conner Neff carded a 1-over-par 73 to secure a runner-up finish Tuesday at the NMAA District 1-5A Boys Championship, leading a local contingent in a competitive field at Twin Warriors Golf Club.
Neff’s performance anchored the Scorpions’ fourth-place team finish. Farmington posted a collective 351 (+63), narrowly edging out Cibola by a single stroke.
The Volcano Vista Hawks claimed the district crown with a team score of 314 (+26), fueled by individual medalist Isaac Cota. Cota turned in an even-par 72 to beat Neff by one shot for the individual title. Rio Rancho (332) and Cleveland (337) rounded out the top three.
Piedra Vista finished sixth in the team standings with a 359 (+71). Sophomore Burke Allen led the Panthers, finishing in a four-way tie for ninth place after shooting an 84 (+12).
The Class 5A state championships will be on the line Monday and Tuesday at the New Mexico State University Golf Course in Las Cruces.
Piedra Vista freshman Bryztal Cline and sophomore Mercedes Sanborn powered the Panthers to a silver-medal finish Tuesday at the NMAA District 1-5A Girls Championship at Twin Warriors Golf Club.
Piedra Vista shot a collective 378 (+90) to secure second place in the team standings, finishing ahead of a three-way tie for third between Cleveland, Volcano Vista, and Cibola. The Rio Rancho Rams claimed the district title with a score of 361 (+73).
Cline led the local effort, finishing fourth individually with a 16-over-par 88. Sanborn followed closely in a tie for fifth place with an 89 (+17).
Farmington High junior Olivia Silentman also cracked the top five, matching Sanborn’s 89 to lead the Scorpions. Farmington finished the day at 107-over-par.
Rio Rancho’s Olivia Platow took home the individual gold, carding a 9-over 81 to edge out teammate Mari Salas and Cleveland’s Senna Altheide by two strokes.