Experience is Tigers best shot

STATE GOLF 2018

know what you’re thinking.

When’s the last time a school won state in football and golf in the same school year?

Actually, it was just a couple of years ago when Brock pulled off the feat.

Nonetheless, that fact is not going to deter Rockdale from trying to duplicate the accomplishment.

The Tigers enter the 74th UIL state golf tournament Monday morning at Grey Rock Golf Club for the seventh time in the past decade.

Defending champion Troup will be in attendance and in fact, the state tournament could be a reunion of sorts as 11 of the 12 teams that participated in the 2017 tournament are back, including Cameron, who was 10th last year.

Comanche is the lone newcomer.

Troup took the 2017 title by 15 strokes over Brock which was aiming for a trifecta.

Despite slicing nine strokes off their first round score, the Tigers could not make up any ground and had to settle for sixth.

It was the second highest finish for the Rock-dale boys, next to a second place finish in 2015.

The Tigers are loaded with experience, as four of the five golfers on the 2017 squad are back, led by Walker Crane, who is participating in his third state tournament and played when he was a freshman.

Crane is joined by Brady Nelson, Gunner Miller, and Ross Loth. Freshman Brayden Burns is the newcomer.

Crane, Nelson and Loth all shot 85 on the second day at last year’s tournament and the steady Nelson had the low tourney scorecard with a 167.

Seniors Crane and Nelson have taken turns as the Tigers’ bell cow this year, with Nelson possessing low scorecard at the district meet and Crane was low man at regional.

Crane had a sparkling 78 in the second round at regionals to lead Rockdale’s surge from third place to first.

It was definitely a team effort. The sophomore Loth lopped off 19 strokes from his first round score with a 78 and Miller trimmed seven strokes off his score.

“I think what makes this boys team special is the fact they are real close on and off the course,” said Rockdale Coach Chris Joslin. “They are also all competitors and hate to lose. They work real hard and pull for each other. They all understand that they need each other to have a good team and want whats best for the team to succeed.”