It is still early in the season and the girls golf coaches at Odessa High and Permian were looking for improvement from their squads during the first day of competition at the ECISD Invitational.
When the final scores were posted, both were pleased with their team’s effort.
El Paso Coronado leads after finishing at 308, good for a seven-shot lead over Midland Legacy (315), with Compass Academy in third at 324 on Friday at Ratliff Ranch Golf Links.
Odessa High sits eighth at 378, with Permian (402) in 12th.
The final round gets underway with a shotgun start at 9 a.m. Saturday at Ratliff Ranch Golf Links.
Individually, Sarah Reed of Midland Legacy carded a 1-under-par 71 to lead by three shots over teammate Natalia Armenta. Allie Scott of Compass Academy is third at three-over 75.
In spite of being down the leaderboard, Permian coach Macee Lane was happy with the effort.
“We improved today,” Lane said. “Every single golfer from the last tournament improved. So, I’m happy with them.”
The scores for each of the Permian girls were not marginal, but drastic improvements, according to Lane.
“We had our true freshman, Staci Olivares, improve by 12 strokes, and we had Tammy Martinez improve by 32 strokes from the last tournament. And then of course, Ella Veretto and Heather LaShomb, both are two of our returners, they both improved by seven to 10 strokes.”
The Odessa High coach Shelbye Hill felt that the home course advantage provided challenges for her players, but they came prepared.
“They stepped-up,” Hill said. “Home courses are pretty hard to play on because you play on it all of the time.
“So, there is a higher expectation and they stepped up and they played really well. It’s the best we played all year.”
Odessa High’s Marina Muela carded a personal-best 79 and is tied for ninth, to lead the ECISD participants.
“Today was a lot different from any other day,” Muela said. “I paid very close attention to the fairways and the greens.
“This was my personal best ever shot in a tournament at all. Today was just amazing. I wouldn’t trade this score for the world.”
Coach Hill praised Muela’s dedication to the sport and that dedication rubbed-off to her teammates.
“Her work ethic was the reason she scored a 79,” Hill said. “She has the confidence, just like the rest of the team.
“They went in and they played for each other and they played for themselves, for their families, for their team and for their school. And it really showed their posture, their body language and they just kept composure all the way through the round and you can see it on the scoreboard.”
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ECISD Invitational
Friday, Ratliff Ranch Golf Links
GIRLS
Team Standings
1. El Paso Coronado, 308; 2. Midland Legacy, 315; 3. Compass Academy, 324; 4.Wolfforth Frenship Blue, 328; 5. Abilene Cooper, 335; 6. Seminole, 347; 7. San Angelo Central, 368; 8. Odessa High, 378; 9. Lubbock Cooper, 379; 10. Wolfforth Frenship Gold, 380; 11. Abilene Wylie, 390; 12. Permian, 402.
Top 10 Individuals
1. Sarah Reed, Midland Legacy, 71; 2. Natalia Armenta, Midland Legacy, 74; 3. Allie Scott, Compass, 75; 4. (tie) Natalie Lewis, El Paso Coronado, 76; and Katelyn Stubbs, El Paso Coronado, 76; 6. Amelie Lield, Abilene Wylie, 77; 7. (tie) Kynlee Stubbs, El Paso Coronado, 78; and Natalia Ochoa, El Paso Coronado, 78; 9. (tie) Marina Muela, Odessa High, 79; and Jordan Cruz, Compass Academy, 79.
Team Results
El Paso Coronado (308): Katelyn Stubbs, 76; Natalie Lewis, 76; Kynlee Stubbs, 78; Natalia Ochoa, 78; Lucy Gilcrease, 88.
Midland Legacy (315): Sarah Reed, 71; Natalia Armenta, 74; Ashley Kruse, 84; Sierra Snapp, 86.
Compass Academy (324): Allie Scott, 75; Jordan Cruz, 79; Aubrey Stone, 84; Hannah Lopez, 86; Olivia Lopez, 90.
Frenship Blue (328): Kara Knight, 81; Savannah Grozler, 82; Leila Ramirez, 82; Yamila Kuchta, 83; Melanie Jones, 89.
Seminole (347): Daycia Cornett, 84; Makenna Neufeld, 88; Zoraya Neufeld, 89; Abilgail Fortner, 89; Maggie Duncan, 89.
San Angelo (368): Michaela Falcon, 87; Olivia Cooper, 92; Abby Wetz, 93; Clarissa Pena, 96; Lilianna Lytle, 101.
Odessa High (378): Marina Muela, 79; Evelyn Marquez, 87; Addyson Turner, 101; Veronica Urias, 111.
Lubbock Cooper (379): Grace McKim, 94; Bailey Terry, 95; Karlee Israel, 95; MiKayla Nudelman, 95; Heidi Acebedo, 99.
Frenship Gold (380): Dayna Keeling, 93; D’Lyliah Lee, 95; Emilee Jaime, 96; Peiyton Justus, 96; Kenley Baker, 97.
Abilene Wylie (390): Amelie Lield, 77; Kiara Fierro, 94; Zoey Anzaldua, 108; Linden Smalley, 111; Nadia Wells, 117.
Permian (402): Ella Veretto, 83; Heather LaShomb; Tammy Maritnez, 108; Staci Olivares, 119.
Abilene Cooper (435): Abby Shumate, 99; Brylie Whitley, 104; Brooke Taylor, 114; Natavia Guy, 118; Natasha Guy, 118.
Other Medalists
Andrews: Sloane Livingston, 83; Abby Ballou, 87; Georgia Morgan, 101.
Seminole: Presley Roberts, 83.
Lubbock Monterey: Naomi Spears, 100; Jaina Weston, 105.
Compass Academy: Cy Herrera, 81; Rany Navarette, 104; Emma Mendoza, 105.
Midland Christian: Jaz Highley, 85; Sophie McDonald, 101; Koe Leary, 105.
Midland High: Lauren Haas, 106; Reagan Sockwell, 123.
