Loboes Pleased With Performances at Andrews Golf Classic
    By Randy Hogan, Staff Reporter, The Monahans News, March 17, 2006

The Monahans Lobo golf team continued to show signs of improvement with solid performances in Varsity and JV competition over spring break.

The  Lobo Varsity competed in the Andrews Golf Classic to kick off spring break and held their own in a tournament dominated by larger classification schools.

Of Class 3A schools entered, only Snyder turned in a final card with scores better than Monahans.

The Tigers had a two-day total 319-322 (641) to finish in seventh place overall, while MHS shot 325-334 (659).

The Loboes are quickly approaching the start of District 3-3A tournament play, and MHS coach David Burnett is pleased with his teams progress at  this point.

"I thought we showed signs of good things to come," said Burnett.

Midland Lee won the tournament by carding scores of 297-305 (602), notching their second consecutive championship in the past two weeks.

For Monahans, Joe Joe Birdwell turned in the Loboes' best score of the tournament with a 74-83 (157) for the weekend.

"Joe Joe really put together a good round for us in Andrews," Burnett said.

The MHS senior round one total was one of the top performances of the day in all classifications.

Victor Calzada carded a 82-78 (160), followed by Shelton Burnett 86-83 (169), Chad Gray scored 83-90 (170), and Cory Petree finished with a two-day total of 88-91 (179).

"Victor picked it up on Saturday and played well," Burnett said.

Calzada improved on his first round total by four points on the final day.

The most pleasant surprise of the tournament for Coach Burnett came from Chad Gray and Shelton Burnett.

"Chad and Shelton shot their best rounds of the year in competition," Burnett said.  "That's what we've been looking for out of them."

Perhaps Monahans can use their performance at Andrews as a gage for district competition to come.  

Fort Stockton finished fifteenth with a score of 342-340 (682), Lamesa sixteenth at 338-349 (687), and Seminole followed scoring 359-345 (704).

Next up for the Green is the Lamesa tournament, which will serve as a final tune up for the district season to begin in Pecos.

"I hope we are putting things together just in time for the district matches in a couple of weeks," said Burnett.  "We are getting better as a team, and that is what it will take."