The Byron Nelson golf teams are off to a strong start once again this season, and coach Barry Hawkins said he is impressed with both sides from top to bottom.
The Nelson boys, ranked second in the state in the 4A division, won the Bearcat Sprawl-Split Rail tournament last weekend in Aledo in a field of 16 teams, and Hawkins said his players competed well in spite of the inclement weather.“There were about three or four of the top teams in the region there,” Hawkins said. “Granbury was there, and so was Aledo. Highland Park didn't have there best team, but Coppell was also there. We played well given the weather conditions on Saturday.”Hayden Springer led the way for the boys on Saturday shooting a 76-76 for a two-day total of 152.The district preview is coming up for the boys on March 18, and Hawkins said this will be a good opportunity to get some playing time for his second team.“My number ones aren't playing in the district preview,” Hawkins said. “I am sending my number twos to get a feel for the golf course. I think we have a real good opportunity to get both teams to regionals, and that is the purpose of sending them there.“It is a one-day event, and normally our best team does not play in one day events. The number ones are going to be playing in the Vernon Newsom at the end of that week, which is one of the top tournaments in the state.”The Newsom tournament will be played at Walnut Creek on March 22-23 in Mansfield.The Nelson boys have won each of their last three tournaments.On the girls side, Hawkins said he has been very pleased with how his team has performed to this point and said he thinks another run at state is well within reach.“The girls are playing extremely well,” Hawkins said. “They won their last tournament of the fall. We changed up our schedule a little bit in the spring. We traveled to Arizona in the fall and played against some top-notch competition. Since the end of the fall, we have also won our last three tournaments.“The girls are playing well, and they are currently ranked number two in the state as well.”Hawkins said that Maty Monzingo is playing especially well at the moment on the girls side.“Maty is playing solid golf as she always does,” Hawkins said. “She won a tournament championship at the regional preview. She played well there. She turned around and played well at the state preview.To make a run at state this spring, Hawkins said it will take a couple of things from his teams.“Both sides, it is going to take all five players stepping up each tournament,” Hawkins said. “Because the competition is so tough, there just cannot be an off tournament or off day for any of them.“We just have to be solid and consistent on both days, all five players.”Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
