The News staff reports
SEALY — Chris Stroud, Andrew Landry, Braden Bailey and all the other excellent golfers to come through the pipeline at Port Neches-Groves got one upped by a fast-rising sophomore Wednesday at the Region III, 5A championship.
Josh Elmore, on the strength of a second consecutive two-over par 73, became what is believed to be the first Indian to walk off with medalist honors at regional. Elmore almost made it look easy at River Ridge Golf Club, winning by three shots with his 146 on the strength of exceptional ball striking.
“This was by far the best I’ve played this year,” said Elmore, who was the 5A co-medalist with teammate Tyler Feemster last week. “I think I only had two bad shots. My ball striking was really good. I hit 12 greens today and 13 on Tuesday. Everything finally clicked.”
“He could have won by more,” said PN-G coach Ricky Keyes. “He just kept hitting fairways and greens and giving himself a lot of birdie chances but the putts weren’t falling. Josh has really been coming on the past three weeks. I challenged him and he responded. I am so proud of him.”
Elmore won’t be the only PN-G golfer headed to the state tournament April 25-26 at Wolfdancer Golf Club near Bastrop. Juniors Karlei Hemler and Brynna
Bailey both qualified in the medalist category that takes the low three scorers on teams who don’t qualify for state.
Hemler fired an ever par 71 for a 146 total to earn her second trip to state. Bailey added a 77 to an opening 74 for a 151.
In team competition, PN-G rallied from a poor first day to improve by 19 strokes with a 307. But it was too little too late for the Indians as a 633 total left them in sixth place. Other PN-G scores included 77-162 by Bryant Hardy, 77-162 by Feemster and 80-163 by Cameron Keith.
“The first day killed us,” said Keyes. “We played like we are capable the second day, but we were just too far behind.”
Nederland’s boys and PN-G’s girls both finished far back in the pack with Nederland shooting 331 for 653 and the Lady Indians posting a 355 for 713.
Michael Krautz delivered the only sub 80 round at regional for Nederland with a 78 for 158. John Krautz was at 80-161, Mitchell LeBaron finished with 86-166 and Kris Robbins was in at 89-170.
After Hemler’s 145 and Bailey’s 151, scores for the PN-G girls include 99-202 for Kensey Dukes, 104-221 for Rian Weatherford and 111-221 for Taryn Robinson.