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Lady Horsemen take state golf championship

St. Michael’s girls carried off their fourth state golf championship 

Play was halted due to the inclement weather that was ruled unsafe for the players, with Lady Horseman freshman Carissa Padilla adding the individual title

Arnie Leshin

By Arnie Leshin| May 10, 2017

One and done, that’s all the St. Michael’s girl’s golf team needed to again get to hoist the blue trophy and display the championship banner.

On Monday’s first day at the state 1A-4A tournament played at the Pinion Hills Golf Club in Farmington, the Lady Horsemen played under the sun and from the cold and wind, but it didn’t matter when they concluded the 18 holes with a seven-stroke lead.

But on Tuesday’s final day, the weather won and so did St. Michael’s.

There was much too much of a mess. Rain, hail, lightening, and even if the golfers wanted to play, it was decided that their safety came first.

And after a four-hour delay, the New Mexico Activities Association collaborated with Pinion Hills official, and signaled an end to the tournament.

With this decision, the Lady Horsemen earned their first state team title since 2006 under Robin Martinez, the head coach than and the head coach now after returning in 2015 to again guide the program. Martinez in fact had won three-straight from 2004 to 2006.

Lady Horsemen, 2017 State Golf Champions. Photo credit: David Martinez

Four of the five Lady Horsemen had already teed off Tuesday when lightening bursts forced officials to halt play. The players retreated to the clubhouse when the conditions became considerably worse.

Then came the delay. The weather was nasty but St. Michael’s got the good news that it had been awarded the championship, maintaining its seven-stroke advantage over defending champion Silver, Ruidoso, Texico and Portales.

It won by virtue of its 388 carded on Monday. Now Coach Martinez, assisted by her husband, David, could claim state titles with both daughters, sophomore Miquela on this squad and Jonelle from the 2006 team who also won the state individual championship.

Now the Lady Horsemen had both again, with freshman Carissa’s 6-over-par 77 carrying over from day one and winning by three strokes over teammate Miquela and Lexi Lucero of Silver.

The program now has four state team titles and five who have won  individual honors. Its previous winners were the former Alyssa Otero in 2001 and 2003, Jonelle in 2006, and Jamie Palermo in 2008.

Miquela, the lone player when her mom first returned, was an 8th grader at the time. The following season brought her and two freshman, and it grew to five with the addition of 6-foot Danielle Vigil off the basketball team.

Vigil had little experience in the sport, but caught on with assistance from the coaches and the players.

She contributed a score of 123 on Monday. Freshman Alyssa Torres totaled 112 and junior Sydney Halford added 138.

The boys didn’t do as well.

Under head coach Gino Torres, the Horsemen finished third after the first day left them 29 strokes behind co-leaders Albuquerque Hope Christian and Portales. Senior Marshall Springer led St. Michael’s with a 5-over-par 77 and placed fifth.

Teammates Cameron Gonzales, a junior, and senior Allen Sanchez tied for 12th place, with both shooting 10-under-par 82.

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