RUIDOSO — The young Portales Lady Rams took four of the top five spots and captured the girls team championship in the Leroy Gooch Invitational golf tournament’s small-school division.

Portales finished with a score of 845 for 36 holes, easily outdistancing host Ruidoso at 901. Lovington was third at 948.

Portales boys, meantime, tied for third with Socorro at 651. St. Michael’s shot a four-man score of 623 to edge Lovington by three shots for team honors.

For the girls, Ruidoso senior Christine Athement took individual medalist honors with a 36-hole score of 207. Portales senior Amber McCasland was only one shot off the pace, while Lady Rams freshmen Tyler Rowley and Kelsey Prince followed at 210 and 213, respectively, and eighth-grader Paige Hartman came in at 214.

Portales’ fifth player, freshman Gabby Espinosa, shot 238.

Senior Donavin Sanchez led the boys, finishing third overall at 151. Senior Rick Bergman bounced back from a first-day 88 with a 74, finishing at 162 to finish in a tie for 14th.

Leroy Gooch Invitational
Monday, Tuesday at Ruidoso
Small-school division
Boys
At Alto Lakes C.C. (Monday),
The Links at Sierra Blanca (Tuesday)
Team standings: 1. St. Michael’s 318-305 — 623; 2. Lovington 325-301 — 626; 3. (tie) Portales 330-321 — 651 and Socorro 322-329 — 651; 5. Mesilla Valley 345-315 — 660; 6. Sandia Prep 350-331 — 681; 7. New Mexico Military 362-333 — 695; 8. Ruidoso 364-333 — 697; 9. Tucumcari 364-349 — 713.
Top five individuals: 1. Johnny Duncan, Ruidoso 76-71 — 147; 2. Taylor Arreola, Lovington 79-70 — 149; 3. Donavin Sanchez, Portales 76-75 — 151; 4. Ty Black, Lovington 79-=74 — 153; 5. (tie) Ryan Romero, Socorro 75-79 — 154 and Marty Sanchez, St. Michael’s 79-75 — 154..
Portales results: Sanchez 76-75 — 151, Rick Bergman 88-74 — 162, Will Archibeque 79-90 — 169, Tristan Cottrell 87-82 — 169, Dennis Short 100-91 — 191.
Girls
At Cree Meadows G.C.
Team standings: 1. Portales 414-431 — 845; 2. Ruidoso 439-462 — 901; 3. Lovington 483-455 — 938. .
Top five individuals: 1. Christine Authement, Ruidoso 104-103 — 207; 2. Amber McCasland, Portales 101-107 — 208; 3. Tyler Rowley, Portales 107-103 — 210; 4. Kelsey Prince, Portales 107-106 — 213; 5. Paige Hartman 99-115 — 214.
Portales results: McCasland 101-107 — 208, Rowley 107-103 — 210, Prince 107-106 — 213, Hartman 99-115 — 214, Gabby Espinosa 118-120 — 238.