Lady Tigers dominate District 5-4A golf tournament

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Varsity, JV both qualify for regionals for first time since 2003

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  • The Snyder varsity golf team of (l-r) Tyleigh Price, AmyAnn Villanueva, Cylie Velasquez, Laura Ortegon and Jalia Williams won the District 5-4A tournament, which concluded Wednesday at the Sammy Baugh Golf Course.
    The Snyder varsity golf team of (l-r) Tyleigh Price, AmyAnn Villanueva, Cylie Velasquez, Laura Ortegon and Jalia Williams won the District 5-4A tournament, which concluded Wednesday at the Sammy Baugh Golf Course.
  • The Snyder JV golf team of (l-r) Brailynn Garcia, Abby Alvarado, Jordyn Stewart, Kalysa Burleson and Caitlyn Crane finished second at the District 5-4A golf tournament and qualified for the regional tournament.
    The Snyder JV golf team of (l-r) Brailynn Garcia, Abby Alvarado, Jordyn Stewart, Kalysa Burleson and Caitlyn Crane finished second at the District 5-4A golf tournament and qualified for the regional tournament.
  • Snyder varsity golfer Tyleigh Price hits her ball out of the bunker during the final round of the District 5-4A tournament on Wednesday.
    Snyder varsity golfer Tyleigh Price hits her ball out of the bunker during the final round of the District 5-4A tournament on Wednesday.
  •  Snyder JV golfer Caitlyn Crane lined up her putt on the No. 9 green.
    Snyder JV golfer Caitlyn Crane lined up her putt on the No. 9 green.
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Snyder High School seniors Cylie Velasquez and AmyAnn Villanueva were all smiles at the Sammy Baugh Golf Course Wednesday afternoon.
The duo did something they had never done before as members of the varsity golf team — raise a district championship trophy. Velasquez and Villanueva have been members of the varsity team all four years and finished second the previous three seasons — once to Sweetwater and twice to Abilene Wylie, which is now a Class 5A school.
But this year, it was different.
“This is like the icing on top of the cake for us,” Villanueva said. “We finished as the runner-up the last three years and to win it this year is a great feeling.”
Velasquez, who won the tournament, said playing on her home course was a challenge.
“We don’t play well here,” she said after posting a score of 82 Wednesday, her lowest score of the three rounds. “We knew if we could come in and play well, we could maintain our advantage. It was nice to finish at home because more people came out to watch us.”
What the Snyder fans were able to see was 10 Lady Tigers qualify for the regional tournament, which will be held April 22-23 at Lubbock’s Shadow Hills Golf Course. Snyder’s varsity finished first and the JV finished second.
“We are so happy for them,” Villanueva said. “This will not only benefit them this year, but the next few years getting the experience of playing in the regional.”
The last time Snyder qualified two teams for the regional tournament was 2003.
“It has been a while for that to happen,” Velasquez said.
Both golfers are hoping to continue the road to the state tournament during the regional. 
Velasquez said it would be their “last hoorah” on the competitive scene.
“We hope to continue this at least two more tournaments,” she said referring to the regional and state tournaments.
Head coach Ricky Hunter said he was proud of every golfer on the course. Seven of the top 10 finishes were by Lady Tigers, led by Velasquez and Villanueva. Jalia Williams, Kalysa Burleson, Laura Ortegon, Jordyn Stewart and Tyleigh Price finished fifth through ninth, respectively.
Hunter knew his varsity team of Velasquez, Villanueva, Williams, Ortegon and Price would make the regional field if they played like they had the first two rounds. He was watching his JV team of Burleson, Stewart, Abby Alvarado, Caitlyn Crane and Brailynn Garcia closely.
“I knew if our second team played well, we could qualify both teams,” he said. “They played well today.”
The JV team posted its lowest team total of the three rounds Wednesday, shooting 381. The JV finished 51 shots ahead of Big Spring.
Two Snyder golfers completed the 54 holes as individuals — Erin Crane was 23rd with a 324 while Dani Greer was 28th with a 337. Tinlee Roland played the final two rounds and posted a 116 on Wednesday.