Marble Falls boys golf is district runner-up
CAPTION: The 2026 Marble Falls High School boys soccer team is the District 24-4A runner-up and includes assistant coach John Berkman (left), Beckett Berkman, Eamon Fisher, Drew Whittle, Camilo Montez, James Srnensky, Gage Goebel, John Srnensky, Rylee Ritchie and head coach Adley Canales. Courtesy photo
The Marble Falls High School boys golf team is the District 24-4A runner-up thanks to three top 10 finishes in the individual standings April 1-2.
The tournament was played at The Legends Golf Course and Villas in Kingsland, site of the Class 4A state tournament.
The Mustangs were paced by junior Camilo Montez, who shot a 70-79–149 to become the first medalist or individual district champion. Freshman Drew Whittle scored a 76-77–153 to finish as the second medalist or individual district runner-up. Both were first and second on the leader board after the first round.
“That shows the caliber of golfers that we have,” head coach Adley Canales said.
Montez is the first Mustang to win the individual title in five years. When Blake Turner won it, Marble Falls was competing in District 25-5A.
Montez, whose first-round score is a new personal season low, showed what he was made of at the No. 13 and No. 14 holes. He triple bogeyed No. 13 and birdied No. 14. But after the tournament ended, he first talked about No. 7 and called it an “unlucky shot.”
“It flared out to the right and just had a bad line,” he said. “I ended up making a triple.”
He may have rushed himself at No. 13 as he recalled not hitting the fairway at this hole a day earlier.
“I was nervous and didn’t really focus or commit to my shot,” the Mustang said. “I did well on my next hole, bouncing back and making a birdie. Coming into today, I felt like the physical part of my game was at its peak. Whenever you don’t focus under pressure and don’t commit when you’re under some pressure, you don’t hit good shots. I was just fortunate enough to focus and recommit on my last two holes.”
He parred No. 17 and birdied No. 18.
Montez recalled being in a similar situation at the 2025 district tournament. Twelve months earlier he had a five-stroke lead going into the final day. On No. 17, he hit the ball into the bunker and eventually scored a quadruple bogey. At No. 18, he hooked the ball into the hazard and discovered he had to punch the ball out into a divot. In other words, he had to dig the ball out of a hole that was missing a patch of turf.
One of the players in his group birdied the hole.
“I had to make around an 80 footer to force a playoff, and I just missed it,” he said. “I lost by one, and it was brutal. I’ve been waiting a year for this tournament, a long time. It’s been like ‘when is district coming?’ It comes, and I finally pull it off. It was rough. I thought I might have another day where I almost choked, but I pulled it off. All glory to God. He gave me the opportunity.”
CAPTION: Junior Camilo Montez reacts to his birdie on No. 14. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
Whittle noted consistency and a short memory are key parts to being near the top of the leaderboard.
“Keeping it in play and staying composed after you have a bad hole,” he said.
Freshman Gage Goebel shot an 80-83–163 to finish seventh overall and sophomore John Srnensky scored an 85-85–170 for 11th, and junior Beckett Berkman shot a 96-93–189 for 24th.
As a team, the Mustangs scored a 311-324–635. Lampasas is the team champion thanks to shooting a 321-312–633.
“We came in knowing Lampasas would be the biggest competition,” Canales said. “Our scores are almost identical, just flipped from day one to day two.”
He noted that the Mustangs aim to score 320 or lower each round.
“(The second day of) 324 – we were a little off our goal,” the coach said. “With the youth on this team, we’re not losing a single player.”
Competing as individuals were freshman James Srnensky, who shot an 80-93–173 to finish 11th overall, senior Rylee Ritchie, who scored an 87-92–179 for 18th, and freshman Eamon Fisher, who shot a 90-97–187 for 22nd overall.
While the Mustangs would have liked to have won the tournament, Whittle said each golfer discovered some areas where he can improve.
“Just a few things we can fix going into regionals to finish better,” he said.
Canales’ advice to his golfers was to trust their swings and don’t overthink.
“The boys were exactly where I wanted headed into this point,” he said.
Round two was delayed by almost two hours because rain and the course needing to dry before golfers could get started. Then Lampasas began to erase the deficit to win the district title by two strokes. The top four individual scores make up the team score. Lampasas had four golfers finish in the top eight with three finishing as the third, fourth and fifth medalists.
The Lady Mustangs scored a 403-402–805 to finish fourth in the team standings. They were led by senior Kate McCary, who scored a 95-102–197 to finish 13th overall. Sophomore Gwyneth Fletcher shot a 99-100–199 to finish 15th overall, senior Cali Brydon shot a 99-102–201 for 18th overall and junior Alexis Sprott scored a 110-98–208 to finish 20th overall.
“We knew their district was going to be loaded,” Canales said. “It’s really, really competitive. The girls shot consistent scores both days, they improved from day one to day two and couldn’t ask any more of them. They improved all year long, and it showed in the district tournament. That’s all we can ask for as coaches is to to give everything they have, and they did.”
The boys Class 4A Region III tournament April 13-14 at Bearkat Golf Course in Huntsville.
CAPTION: Freshman Drew Whittle watches as his ball makes its way to the hole after he putts. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
