Purple still reigns: Hemler, Elmore help Indians stay on top of 22-5A

Published 11:59 pm Thursday, April 6, 2017

BEAUMONT — Eight, three and three were the numbers worth noting Thursday, as Port Neches-Groves completed its expected sweep in the District 22-5A golf tournament at Henry Homberg Golf Club.

That’s eight, as in eight consecutive boys team titles for PNG. It’s three, as in three consecutive girls championships for the Lady Indians. And it’s another three to mark PNG senior Karlei Hemler’s third consecutive individual title.

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About the only suspense on day two involved PNG’s Josh Elmore, a heavy pre-tourney favorite on the boys side. Elmore rallied with a back nine 34 for a 73 to wind up winning comfortably, after Nederland’s Brendan Marley closed to one shot at the 27-hole mark.

Elmore, who had opened with a 75, finished at 148. Marley signed off on a 154, after scores of 78-76. Third went to Bryce Parsley of PNG Purple at 158 (79-79).

In addition to Elmore’s 148 and Parsley’s 158, Timothy Feemster added a 163 (84-79) for PNG Purple to place sxith overall and Chase Selman finished at 169 (86-83).

Hemler, meanwhile, finished seven shots clear of teammate Brynna Bailey, after shooting an uncharacteristic 80 for 156. Bailey improved from 87 to 76 for 163, and was in position to do much better before making bogeys on her final four holes.

PNG Purple boys added a 314 to Wednesday’s 324 to finish at 638.

Nederland was nine shots back in second with a 647, after adding a 313 to its opening 334. PNG White was third at 709.

The PNG Purple girls, with a total of 689 (350-339), won by 144 shots over PNG White. Other scores that counted for the girls were Rian Weatherford’s 184 (92-92) and Kassidei Hemler’s 190 (99-91).

Besides the Nederland and PNG boys and the two PNG girls teams, Vidor’s Trent Kizer and Lumberton’s Bryce Shaver advanced to regional on the boys side. Livingston’s Abby Gennuso and PNG’s Weslyn Smalley moved on as girls medalists.

Kizer shot 161 (84-77), Shaver was at 164 (87-77), Gennuso posted a 204 (98-106) and Smalley finished with 205 (98-107).

While the PNG boys notched that eighth consecutive title, Nederland’s boys edged them by a stroke on day two. The Bulldogs wound up with two players in the top five overall — Marley and Brice Perryman, who shot 79 for 161.

Also contributing to Nederland’s second day 313 were John Krautz, who had the team’s low score of 75 for 163, and Jadon Bell, who shot 83 for 169.

The 5A Region III tournament is set for the final week in April at River Ridge in Sealy.