GRANTS - Though the recent spate of snowy weather might have detracted those of us itching to hit the links, it has not stopped the Grants High School boys' golf team from gearing up for its spring season.

One year after not qualifying as a team for the state tournament, this year's Pirates - Tannin Cash, Bobby Gabaldon, Denis and Stephen Moleres and Jeffrey Trujillo - have already earned a team “leg” and then some.

They won four of the six tournaments they played in the fall, and did so with some impressive stroke averages from their top four players (Gabaldon played football and did not compete with the Pirate golfers in the fall).

Stephen Moleres notched a stroke average of 75 over four tournaments while Trujillo averaged 77.75, also over four tourneys. Cash played in six contests and had a stroke average of 77.83 and in his only fall tournament, Denis Moleres carded a 75.

Trujillo said that all of these numbers add up to a very confident team heading into the spring season.

“It takes a lot of pressure off us in the spring to not have to rush to qualify,” Trujillo told the Beacon. “We can practice fundamentals and detail work, maybe working on our short game; those things we might not otherwise have time for.”

Even with the pressure of making the state tournament removed, Trujillo said that when the Pirates hit the fairways for their first tournament, they will do so with a bit of a chip on their shoulders. Especially since Grants had such a fortuitous fall; though neither teams nor individuals are officially ranked, the Pirates could arguably be placed in the upper echelon of the teams in 4A when considering their four tournament wins.

“At the tournaments, we still want to be aggressive, to get our names out there,” he said. “Last year, me and Tannin were happy just to be there, but this year we want to make the most of it. We want to be a team to look out for, not just one of the seeded teams in the tournament.”

And Trujillo said that all of this seems to be fitting into what he envisioned as a freshman: that he and the other members of the Grants golf team would one day have a chance to do something special.

“As freshmen we knew that our senior year would be the best,” he said of fellow seniors Cash and Gabaldon. “Our skills are much better and we have all put in the time and seen maturity in our game. I used to watch (former GHS golfer) Karl Gottlieb play, and I would think, 'I can do that if I keep practicing.' And here I am.”

Head coach Marty Zeller said that Grants' first spring tournament would be in Ruidoso and take place in April.