staff report
KYLE – Led by the strong performances of sophomores Chandler Cooke and Colby Connor, the boys golf team of first-year Lake Belton High School finished in sixth place in the weather-shortened University Interscholastic League Class 4A state tournament Tuesday at Plum Creek Golf Course.
The tournament was shortened from 36 holes to 27 holes because of inclement weather.
Competing with four sophomores and one freshman, Lake Belton produced scores of 328 and 163 for a 491 total, one shot behind fifth-place Paris. (326-164).
Argyle (296-146) won the team championship with a 442 total that was 22 strokes better than runner-up Monahans (312-152) and 29 ahead of Canyon (312-159).
District 19-4A champion Cooke shot a 5-over-par 76 in Monday's first round and came back Tuesday with a nine-hole 38 in the final round for a 114 total that tied him for 12th place, 13 strokes behind individual state champion Jaxon Donaldson of Wimberley (65-36).
Connor gave the Broncos another player in the top 25, following his opening-round 82 with a sharp 36 on Tuesday for a 118 total to share 24th place.
Also for coach David Sims and Lake Belton, sophomore Chase Passentino-Slone tied for 47th at 88-44, freshman James Bond placed 49th at 85-45 and sophomore Hayden Nix tied for 70th at 100-46.
The Broncos' score at state was two shots better than seventh-place Orange Little Cypress-Mauriceville, which beat runner-up Lake Belton by 38 strokes in the Region III tournament in Huntsville.
Competing at state as an individual medalist, Gatesville's Evan Washburn shot a first-round 80 and a final-round 40 for a 120 total and 28th place.