Texarkana Elite is a competitive junior golf program for all Texarkana residents 10 and up.

Qualifying for Texarkana Elite is June 2-3. The top 12 qualifiers will be introduced to a summer-long tournament based program.

Qualifying for Texarkana Elite will be held at Northridge Country Club, and there is no charge. Those fortunate enough to make the 12 golfer program will be subject to fees of $150 for Northridge members and $225 for non-members.

For more information about Texarkana Elite contact Donovan Solis or Justin Adams at Northridge (903) 792-9331 or (903) 794-6196.

Larry East and Glen Adams prevailed in the rain-shortened Southwest Arkansas Seniors 2-Man Scramble at New Haven Golf Club last week with a 9-hole score of 4-under-par. Paul Jones and John Stephens were second at 3-under, while Clif Perkins and Jerry Smith were another shot back in third place.
F.D. Gibson and John McLaughlin was a scorecard playoff to take the B Flight with a 1-under-par score. David Mitchell and L.W. Grigsby were second, while Terry Vestal and Ronald Gillaspy shot even par for third.
A scorecard playoff also determined first place in the C Flight where Ira Royal and Wayne McCollum shot even par. Freddie Sanders and Jim Hastings were second, while Roy Ryan and Lloyd Carter were third at 1-over.
The tournament attract 76 players and there was a total payout of $790. Co-sponsors of the event included Golf Etc. and Golf USA.

Mil-Way Credit Union won Tuesday’s Red River Credit Union’s 20th annual Wright Patman Chapter of the Jack Smith Honorary Golf Scramble at Texarkana Golf Ranch with a 58. Members of the winning team were Allen Brown, Sonny Brainerd, Rusty Cotton and Calvin Williams.
The Red River Credit Union team of John Stephens, Allen Clement, Bobby Ables and Doug Norton also shot 58, but lost a scorecard playoff and had to settle for second place. Cuna Mutual’s team of Brian Flynn, Ramsay Ellis, Kelly Mitchell and Bubby Ashby also shot 58 and finished third.
The long drive contest was won by Keith Bobo, while Fred Meisenheimer and Wayne Salva won the closest-to-the-pin competition.

Ronny Looney matched his age Tuesday at Oak Grove Golf Club by shooting even par 71.
Witnessing the round were Bill Shope, Ron Deaver, Rick Hardemon, Mel Hamilton and Jeff Taylor.

AUSTIN—Rain proved to be a big ally for Pleasant Grove’s golf team Friday as the Hawks won their first 3A State Golf title since 1991.
Heavy rain forced the event to be shortened to a 27-hole tournament, and the Hawks rallied from a 1-shot defict after the first round to beat Gatesville by eight shots (443-451).
PG junior Sean Romero finished the tournament at 5-under 101 to win medalist honors. Paris’ Stewart Underwood was second at 104.
“Sean and Trumann (Nugent) have done their stuff all year, and then we’ve had some guys really step up in the postseason,” PG coach Steve Wren said. “Curt King stepped up for us at the regional tournament, and today Josh Cole was the guy.
“We all teed off this morning, but then had a six-hour delay because of rain and lightning. Sean was at 14 when they stopped the tournament because of darkness. We were ahead by 10 shots at that time, but they only used the first nine.”
Both Romero and Nugent were even par 35 during the front nine, with Cole shooting 36 and King 40. Logan Byrd was the fifth Hawk with a 41.
“We’ve got everyone back except Trumann,” Wren said. “It looks really good for us next season, too.”
This is Pleasant Grove’s fifth state golf title. It was the Hawks’ first appearance at the state tournament since 1998.

READY

AUSTIN—Junior Sean Romero recorded six birdies and one bogey on his way to a 5-under-par 66 in helping Pleasant Grove climb into contention for the Class 3A State Golf Championship at Roy Kizer Golf Course.
The Hawks finished the opening 18 holes at 297, one shot behind Gatesville. Wharton is another 10 shots back in third place, with Graham at 311.
“The kids were actually mad that they weren’t leading,” PG coach Steve Wren said. “I don’t think I have to worry about them being ready tomorrow. If we had been one shot ahead I might approach tomorrow a little different.”
PG’s only senior, Truman Nugent, had the Hawks’ second-best score of the day at 76. Junior Josh Cole shot 77, and sophomore Curt King fired a 78. Logan Byrd post an 82.
Wren said rain is in today’s forecast, but the Hawks tee off in the morning, with Romero the last to go at 9:35.
— Louie Avery

SAN ANTONIO, Texas—Texarkana’s Zack Fischer tied for fourth place Tuesday during the first stage of U.S. Open qualifying at the Golf Club of Texas at Briggs Ranch.
Fischer, who plays for the University of Texas-Arlington, and was a first-team All-Southland Conference selection, posted a 4-under-par 68. He was one of seven players to qualify for the second stage, a 36-hole event to be held June 2 at the Woodlawns in Houston.
The former Texas High standout has also been invited as an at-large player to participate in the NCAA Golf tournament at Carlton Oaks Golf Club in San Diego May 20-22.

Oak Grove Golf Club defeated Idabel Country Club, 23-4, at OGGC  in last Saturday’s Ryder Cup series, the third annual event between the two clubs.
Three players—Oak Grove’s Scott Turner and Larry East and Idabel’s Danny Deberry—tied for medalist honors with 1-under-par 71’s.

There’s little doubt  fifth-year head coach Steve Wren has Pleasant Grove’s golf programs headed in the right direction. That means this week the Hawks are headed south—to Austin.
Pleasant Grove looks to capture the Class 3A state team title Thursday and Friday at the Roy Kizer Golf Course, and Wren knows the mental game will play as big a part in the Hawks’ success as the physical aspects.
“We’re very excited. The kids believe what they are capable of doing, and it’s been a process,” Wren said. “We’ve played eight tournaments before district, and we placed first, second or third in seven. They have confidence from playing the way they have all year. We just have to keep that same mindset in Austin.”
The Hawks broke 300 for the first time under Wren at the District 16-3A meet when they shot 299. At regionals PG again had to shoot under 300, posting a 298 in the final round to claim the championship by a single stroke over Prosper.
“We’re just not happy with going there; we’re going down with a purpose,” Wren said. “All year we’ve stopped and looked at the state championship banners in the gym, and that’s been our goal. You have to get some good bounces and be on for two good rounds in order to win.”
Trumann Nugent is the only senior for PG. Sean Romero, Curt King, Logan Byrd and Josh Cole are juniors, and Jacob Rochelle a freshman. Rochelle, the alternate, has been in the starting five for the Hawks most of the season but lost a playoff with King for the final spot before regionals.
“Sean is obviously a Division I player and is committed to New Mexico, verbally,” Wren said. “He is a complete all-around player. He averages 72 and can go low when he’s on. Jacob has been a pleasant surprise. He’s shot in the low 70s a few times this spring and has helped us get to this point.”
Wren sees different attributes in each of his team members.
“Trumann has a great short game, great work habits, and loves to play,” Wren added. “Logan is the type of kid that just wills his way to get the ball in the hole. He is a fighter.
“Curt has great confidence, likes the pressure being on him and enjoys thriving in that scenario. Josh is a great ball striker. I have never seen a kid in high school strike the ball as far as he does with tremendous lag.”
Wren attributes many people associated with the program for his team’s success.
“Us getting to this point has been a community effort,” Wren said. “The Texarkana courses allow us to come on and share the course with the public. The golf pros and managers help us tremendously, whether they realize it or not, And the parents take these kids to get lessons and are there to support us. Plus, we’ve held a parent-child tournament for the last five years, and we have some kids who came from that tournament.”
All the preparation the Hawks have undergone will be tested this week under pro-tournament-like conditions, according to the coach.
“Positive self-talk is so important when you are on the course, struggling or hit a bad shot,” Wren said. “I have used what I learned with the golf teams at Centenary and the University of Arkansas about preparing yourself mentally. These kids are ready physically, and I have tried to get them ready mentally. We have to handle all the distractions, and that’s harder to do in that environment.
“If we have the mindset of expecting to win the close ones, I think we’ll be in good shape.”

— Josh Richert