Leatherwood starts play Monday at Class 4A state golf tournament

Snyder High School sophomore Jake Leatherwood never expected to play at the Class 4A state golf tournament this year.
But Leatherwood will tee off in the first round of the state tournament at Onion Creek Club Monday. The final 18 holes will be played Tuesday. He is the first Tiger to qualify for the tournament since 2003 when Snyder won the Class 3A state championship.
Leatherwood will play a practice round Sunday. He is scheduled to begin his round at 9:20 a.m. Monday with Van’s Logan Lockwood, Waco Robinson’s Chase Allison and Devine’s Carson Tilley.
After playing on the varsity team last season, Leatherwood became one of the team’s most consistent golfers this season. He shot 235 and finished fourth at the District 2-4A tournament and a 147 at the Region 1-4A tournament, which was tied for the fifth best score.
“I’m pleased with how I played at the regional tournament,” Leatherwood said. “I was playing against the best golfers in this part of Texas. My goal was to make the state tournament, but I didn’t know if I would do it this year. I wish the entire team was playing with me at the tournament.”
Leatherwood’s success didn’t surprise Snyder head coach Ricky Hunter.
“Golf is about playing your best at the right time,” Hunter said. “Jake has been capable of shooting scores like he did at the regional tournament all year. He is peaking at the right time. Jake didn’t surprise me, but we had other golfers who could had done the same thing.”
Leatherwood spent most of last week at the Sammy Baugh Golf Course working on his short game and hitting balls on the driving range.
“I’ve hoping it will help me at the state tournament,” he said. “My mental game has drastically improved. I don’t get as frustrated when I hit a bad shot. I just try to keep going.”
Hunter said Leatherwood will gain experience at the state tournament.
“For a sophomore, he is a mature player and played a lot of golf, but he still has a lot of learning to go,” Hunter said. “This will be a great learning experience for him. He is doing a better job of course management and learning to play situational golf. Instead of  stepping up and hitting the ball, he looks at the shot and determines what is the best option.”
Leatherwood played at the same course during the state preview tournament in February and shot 179. in 36 holes.
He said that experience helped him prepare for the state tournament.
“Playing on the same course gives you an edge, but it will be different,” he said. “My goal is to shoot two rounds in the 70s and see where I come out.”
Hunter said he tried to keep the same practice schedule for Leatherwood this week.
“I tried to keep practice normal and other guys have practiced with him,” he said. “It’s an advantage to play that course again because he knows what to expect. Every course has four or five key holes and he knows which ones they are. He must be prepared to play those holes.”