Golf: Bearcats win district title again

The Aledo golf teams and district championships go hand-in-hand. This season, the Bearcats Black team once again won the District 5-5A championship April 2-3 at Cross Timbers Golf Course in Azle. It came on the heels of the Ladycats having also repeated as district champs March 31-April 1 on the same course.

The Bearcats had a two-day score of 651 (312-339) to edge runner-up Granbury Purple with a 658. Aledo Orange was third with a 674.

The Bearcats Black and Granbury Purple qualified to advance to the Class 5A Region I Tournament April 16-17 at Lake Ridge Country Club in Lubbock. The Ladycats Black team will be competing April 14-15 on the same course.

“We’ve been going back and forth with Granbury all year long,” Aledo coach Brian Mourning said. “It’s great to beat them to win this, but they’re going to be a force to reckon with at regionals.”

While the top two teams and top two individuals not on those teams advance from district, from regionals the top three teams and top three individuals not on those teams qualify for state. The Girls State Tournament is April 28-29 and the Boys State Tournament is May 5-6, both at Legacy Hills Golf Club in Georgetown.

Logan Lund of Aledo Orange led all Bearcat scorers with a 156 (74-82), third overall individually. Braden Stokes led Aledo Black with a 157 (76-81).

“I’m going to take Logan on the Black team to Lubbock,” Mourning said. “A 74 at the district tournament, I can’t turn a blind eye on that. He earned his spot.”

Also for Aledo Black, Ethan Elmore tied for fifth individually with a 159 (76-83) and Ryland Haley posted a 160 (80-80) to tie for seventh. Will Kirkman came in with a 175 (80-95) and Maddox Jessup shot 179 (83-96).

Rounding out the Aledo Orange scores were Evan Boukadoum, 170 (84-86); Tyler Anderson, 172 (84-88); Brian Yarbrough, 176 (88-88); and Grayson Freeman, 188 (96-92).

The four lowest individual scores comprise the team scores for each round.

Henry Ballew of Granbury won the individual medalist title with a 153 (73-80), followed by Ethan Bartlett of Azle at 155 (78-77).

The second day of the tournament featured inclement weather to start the day, delaying the start. Once the rain ended, there was still wind and cold to deal with.

“We dodged the rain, but the wind kicked up,” Mourning said. “You get out on that back nine and it’s pretty open.”

The Bearcats could very well face similar winds in Lubbock. As for teams to beat, along with his own and Granbury, Mourning noted Argyle, Grapevine, Amarillo Tascosa, Burlington Centennial, and Fort Worth Paschal, which dropped down from Class 6A this season.

“Regionals is going to be a challenge,” Mourning said. “There’s going to be a lot of talent out there, but if we play like I know we can, we can be right there in the mix.”