Finishing strong
“It’s much higher than we wanted to shoot,” head coach Lonnie Tackitt said. “We’ve practiced on it three or four times. I don’t know if that’s enough to prepare you.”
The tournament was played at Applerock and at Ramrock, two of the most challenging 18 holes in the area, according to several golfers. Marble Falls plays on the Horseshoe Bay course, but Tackitt said the athletes haven’t played Ramrock that much.
“Some of the guys haven’t seen the backside of Ramrock,” the coach said. “We had the opportunity to play all 18. It’s not as much of a home-course advantage as you’d like for it to be.”
Marble Falls was 10th the first day.
“You want to go out and do better on the second day,” Tackitt said. “The expectation to do better the second day is unrealistic because it’s so much harder.”
J.W. Harlin led the Mustangs with 83–86—169. Ethan Turner finished second at 92–86—178, while Matt Herring added 90–91—181, and Zach Wagner finished at 94–93—187.
“They really hung in there,” the coach said. “Ethan played much better. J.W. said he was off until he figured something out on his swing. He shot even par the last six.”
He was pleased to see his players battle in a tournament that featured teams from the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
“You still have to hit every shot in the right spot,” Tackitt said. “You still have to put the ball in the hole.”
The coach said the Mustangs’ team score was the highest it has been in two years, but the courses were challenging and hard for other squads as well.
“I’m not all that much disappointed,” he said. “It was tough. But we beat 15 teams. Most of those schools were Class 5A schools.”
Keller won the event by shooting a 321–339—660.
“For the winning team to average 330, that shows you how tough we were playing,” Tackitt said.
The individual winner was from Salado, who shot 76–70—146. Harlin was in his group and told Tackitt the player was able to putt from far away.
“That’s a 2A school, so he’s a fine player,” the Mustangs skipper said.
jfierro@thepicayune.com