The Yorktown Wildcats golf team took to the course with one goal in mind—earning a trip to the state tournament— and they did just that with a determined performance at the 2A Region IV Tournament.
Competing on Monday, April 13 and Tuesday, April 14 at Gabe Lozano Golf Course in Corpus Christi, the Wildcats returned to a familiar setting, as the course had previously hosted one of their district rounds earlier this season. That familiarity showed as Yorktown settled in early and competed with confidence across both rounds.
With only the top three teams advancing to the state tournament, the pressure was high throughout the field. Mason captured the regional title with an impressive team score of 631, finishing 40 strokes ahead of Goldthwaite and 61 strokes ahead of Yorktown. Goldthwaite secured second place, while the Wildcats claimed third, earning the final qualifying spot and punching their ticket to state.
Individually, the tournament featured a tight race at the top. Walt Thompson of Goldthwaite captured the regional title with a two-day total of 150, edging out Cade Dudney of Mason by three strokes.
The Wildcats opened with a team score of 348 on Day 1 and improved to a 344 on Day 2, finishing with a combined score of 692. In high school golf, the top four scores count toward the team total each day, with the highest score dropped. Yorktown was able to take advantage of that format, getting steady rounds from the scores that counted and making a strong push on the second day.
Brody Metting led the Wildcats with rounds of 81 and 79, providing a strong and reliable presence at the top of the lineup. Kolton Eckhardt followed with scores of 85 and 80, making a strong improvement on the second day to help the team’s overall push. Connor Saunders added rounds of 90 and 92, while Kason Sullivan contributed scores of 92 and 93. Colton Rogers posted rounds of 93 and 101, and while those scores were not part of the four counted each day, his effort added depth to the lineup and provided the team with flexibility throughout the tournament.
Yorktown’s improvement from the first round to the second highlighted the team’s focus and ability to respond under pressure. By putting together stronger rounds on Day 2, the Wildcats were able to secure their position and finish among the top three teams in the region.
Now, Yorktown sets its sights on the state tournament, scheduled for April 27–28 at Lions Municipal Golf Course in Austin. With momentum from regionals and a balanced lineup, the Wildcats will look to carry their strong play forward as they compete against the best teams in Texas
