Prep golf: Here are the highlights after first day of state tournament

State golf 7 — Manzano’s Kiana Weirick drives the ball on the 10th hole Monday during the 5A state golf tournament at San Juan Country Club Golf Course in Farmington.

State golf 14 — Lovington's Bailey Alexander hits out of the bunker on Hole 14 during the 4A state golf tournament Monday at Piñon Hills Golf Course in Farmington.

State golf 10 (Rylee Salome photo) — Belen’s Rylee Salome attempts a 4-foot putt on the first hole Monday during the 4A state golf tournament at Piñon Hills Golf Course in Farmington.

State golf 6 — Piedra Vista's Annie Yost attempts and sinks a 3-foot putt for a birdie on Hole 18 during the 5A state golf tournament Monday at San Juan Country Club Golf Course in Farmington.

State golf 3 — Albuquerque Academy's Josh James attempts a 12-foot putt on Hole 1 during the 4A state golf tournament Monday at Piñon Hills Golf Course in Farmington.

James Yodice James Yodice James Yodice Journal Staff Writer

Published May 12, 2025 - 8:11 p.m. Modified May 12, 2025 - 10:44 p.m.

La Cueva’s boys and Piedra Vista’s girls lead after the opening 18 holes of the Class 5A state golf tournament at San Juan Country Club in Farmington.

The Bears, led by eighth-grader Nixon Knee, who is tied for second individually, shot a team score of 314 on Monday. La Cueva leads Rio Rancho and Volcano Vista each by a dozen shots headed into Tuesday’s final round.

Rio Rancho senior Payton Black takes a three-shot lead into Tuesday, when high winds are expected in the afternoon.

Black shot a 3-over 74, with Knee and Volcano Vista’s Isaac Cota tied for second, three strokes behind.

Piedra Vista senior Annie Yost, the defending individual girls champion, has the 18-hole lead. She carved out a nifty 2-under 71 on Monday at San Juan, which plays to a par of 73 for the girls.

There is only one girl closer than 11 shots of Yost: Eleanor Warden of Organ Mountain, who placed third last year and shot 74. It was another eight back to last year’s runner-up, Alyssa Rodriguez of West Mesa, and Kendall Trujillo of La Cueva, who both carded an 82.

The Panthers lead La Cueva by seven (336-343) in what is a two-team battle Tuesday for the blue trophy.

CLASS 4A: On the other side of Farmington, at Piñon Hills Golf Course, Albuquerque Academy’s boys and girls both are leading following the first round.

The Chargers’ 306 leads Lovington’s boys by 12 and Artesia by 13, with Los Alamos (324) and Goddard (325) looking to win a trophy as well.

There are nine boys within five shots of the lead, held Monday by senior Riley Apodaca of Deming, who was at 71. Albuquerque metro champ Thomas Whitten of Academy, an eighth-grader, and Lovington senior Landon Trevino, were two shots back of Apodaca.

The 4A girls standings are tight, with Academy’s 341 four shots lower than Kirtland Central, and third-place Lovington was looming, just 12 shots behind the Chargers on Monday.

Senior Rylee Salome of Belen on Tuesday will be looking to win her fourth state championship in a row. She shot 73 Monday, a stroke in front of Hayden Dan of Kirtland Central and two ahead of Academy sophomore Addy Haas, the metro champ.

CLASS 1A-3A: At Riverview Golf Course in Kirtland, the boys teams are grouped tightly at the top. Mesilla Valley (321) leads, but there are several teams close — New Mexico Military Institute (324), St. Michael’s (327) and Socorro (328), who could win state on Tuesday.

Senior Mason Hicks of NMMI shot the round of the day, a 4-under 68, and he’s three clear of Gateway Christian sophomore Troy Oswald.

Socorro’s girls are in command more than any team in any class, as the Warriors lead second-place Gateway Christian by 46 shots. Socorro on Tuesday is going after a 22nd title, which would extend a record it already holds.

The Warriors have three of the top four individuals, with freshman Abbegail Munguia leading the field following an 81 on Monday. She has a two-shot edge.

While Monday was a shotgun start for all three classes, it is tee times on Tuesday, with each course sending off their first groups at 8:30 a.m., with the finals groups going off at 10:20 a.m.