Highland Park couldn’t have asked for a better performance at the Class 5A Region II Golf Championships in Pottsboro.
Not only did the Scots claim the team championship and produce the individual gold medalist, HP’s No. 2 also secured a berth to the state tournament slated for April 28-29 at Legacy Hills Golf Club in Georgetown.
HP is one of only three boys or girls golf teams to advance two teams to state and is the only program in 6A or 5A to accomplish the feat.
“I would say it went fantastic,” said Richard Wager, HP head coach. “The kids all came out and put together two good rounds. To have two teams qualify, we’re very pleased.”
HP’s top team posted scores of 295 and 292 at Tanglewood Golf Course for a combined total of 587, while HP’s second team (301-303–604) tied for second with Prosper Walnut Grove (298-306–604). The top three squads in the team standings qualified for state.
Individually, HP’s Jeffrey Rubenstein carded rounds of 72 and 71 (143), including two-putting on the final hole to seal the gold medal.
HP’s Edward Lehner also made his way to the medal stand, firing 72 and 72 (146) to claim the bronze medal.
“I wasn’t really surprised to see Jeff pull it out,” Wager said. “He’s been one of our top players throughout the year and was pretty confident he would play well. He got off to a little bit of a slow start at district, but he played great from the start (in Pottsboro).”
Rounding out the rest of HP’s competitors in Pottsboro were Andy Lieu in sixth (74-73–147), Carter Klein in seventh (75-73-148), Charlie Simmons in 12th (76-76-152), 12-5A district champ Ben Parks in 15th (76-77–153), Hayes Durham in 15th (77-76–153), Owen Beck in 20th (74-81–155), Charlie Conger in 28th (83-75–158) and Gray Gale in 33rd (78-81–159).
HP now gears up for the state tourney at Legacy Hills, a course HP previously competed at in the state preview in February.
“Hopefully the weather holds off for us,” Wager said. “It’s going to be tough. Walnut Grove is the reigning state champion and will probably be our biggest competition. We’ve played against them a few times and we both have wins. If we can play two good rounds, we’re definitely capable of winning.”
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