Golf squad prepares for state meet

By Ron Gonzales
Beacon correspondent

GRANTS - After a swine flu-induced break, the Grants High School golf team finally knows how its postseason will shake out.

The boys will play in the District 6-4A tournament beginning May 8 at 2 p.m. at Ladera Golf Course in Albuquerque. The Pirates already have qualified for state as a team, and after a practice round on May 11, Grants will hit the New Mexico Tech Golf Course in Socorro on May 12-13 for the two-day tournament.

District 6-4A coaches actually had met to discuss the district tournament situation while players and coaches were barred from practice during the NMAA-enforced shutdown of athletics and activities. During a meeting, the coaches bestowed the District crown upon Grants, because it had earned the most team legs, and the District Champion crown upon Tannin Cash, for earning the most legs amongst all of the District players.

However, once the NMAA removed its sanctions, District coaches decided to go ahead with a tournament, and this actually is pleasing to GHS Head Coach Marty Zeller

“We want to prove that we're the best team in the District rather than have an asterisk by our name later on,” Zeller said. “I don't want that and I don't think Tannin would want it either. It also gives our other players a chance to be District champion.”

Zeller does have a couple of concern about how things played out, however. With the delay, Grants lost a bit of momentum it had built in the late spring season. Also, after practicing at Los Altos Golf Course - where the District tournament was first scheduled to take place at - Grants now is forced into the switch of venue, which could have an effect on the outcome.

“My view is that we needed to play the tournament right away so that we would have been practiced,” he said. “Also, we didn't really want to move it to Ladera; it's St. Pius' home course. But hey, we will beat them on their home course. Mark it down: we will be District champs.”

Of the four teams in District 6-4A, only Grants and St. Pius have earned team legs for the state tournament.