Artesia boys, girls champs
Both rally in second round for state titles
Artesia came. The Bulldogs saw. And both the boys and girls of orange left with blue trophies in tow.
For the first time in its illustrious athletic history, Artesia can claim state championships in boys and girls golf, coming from behind Tuesday on both sides of the ledger to win the Class 5A crowns at The Canyon Club in Four Hills.
“This is an amazing bunch of kids,” said Artesia coach Dusty Bean. “They’re like brothers and sisters. On the golf course, they work together. They do everything together.”
That teamwork certainly helped as the boys overcame a sevenstroke deficit to Los Lunas after the opening round and the girls came from a single-stroke hole to St. Pius.
“I’m just real proud of the way the kids played,” Bean said. “How they fought. How they worked all year. I’m choking up. They’re amazing and I’m honored to be their coach.”
Both runners-up took home the individual honors. The Sartans’ Ashlee Garrett extended her three-stroke, first-round lead to end up with a seven-stroke victory over Artesia’s Josey Jackson. Los Lunas’ Chesten Browning held off a late rush by teammate Dylan Gonzales to win by two strokes.
With the wind, the rain and the sun taking turns making their presence felt, it was a challenge to focus on the next shot, said Garrett, who finished with a 15-over 159.
“It was tough conditions (Tuesday),” she said. “It was always really hot or really cold and you were always taking your jacket off or putting it on. It was difficult with the weather but it ended up good.”
Browning finished with a 6-over 150 and his par 72 Monday was the only round of the tournament that was not above par.
“I didn’t really have any expectations,” he said. “I just wanted to do my best, stay focused and keep going with what I have been working on. And it paid off. It’s mainly my mental game. In previous years, I’ve hit it further and maybe a little straighter, but I’ve really matured this year mentally and I’ve been able to play golf more than just hit ball as far as I can type of thing.”
Taking the top two spots in the individual standings could be taken two ways, said Los Lunas coach Marty Zeller.
“There’s a lot to be said about it,” he said. “A lot to be said on the positive side and a lot to be said on the negative side with first and second and not winning a state championship. The bottom line is we ended up with first and we ended up with second.”
The Sartan girls lost a playoff to Artesia in last year’s state tournament, blowing a five-stroke lead.
“We had a five-shot lead,” St. Pius coach Chris Moya said of 2016. “This year, we had a one-shot lead and we lose by one stroke. I love the rivalry. You gotta love the rivalry. I congratulate Artesia.
“It was fun to watch these girls compete head to head two years in a row,” he said. “Last year we lose in a playoff and I congratulate my team.”