RUIDOSO — Ethan Peterson has gotten on his game.
The Clovis High senior had his second consecutive strong outing on Friday, shooting a 4-under 68 to help the Wildcats finish second at 319, three shots behind District 4-5A rival Hobbs, in the Great 8 Invite at The Links at Sierra Blanca.
Peterson shot an 87 in the Cats’ season-opening meet, but came back with a 1-under 70 on Monday in the Artesia Invite.
“This is the second tournament in a row where he’s shot under par,” Cats coach Cal Fullerton said. “He’s playing really good.”
Junior Haley Berry shot a season-best 41-40 — 81 as Clovis High’s girls posted a season-best team total of 362 to finish second, six shots behind Lovington.
Hobbs’ Ryan Hawkins tied Peterson for boys individual honors at 68 as 4-5A teams dominated. Carlsbad was third in the eight-team event at 324.
The Cats earned their first state leg at 319, playing well over the final few holes to do it.
“Compared to Monday at Artesia, where we started off good and struggled at the end, today we didn’t start off that well,” Fullerton said.
Peterson earned his second individual leg while senior Sam Bridgwater shot 40-39 — 79 to notch his first leg.
Clovis girls coach Steve Speck called his squad’s performance “a team effort” as the Lady Wildcats’ other four players were all bunched between 93 and 95.
He said the team generally putted well, an area where the Lady Cats have had problems.
“The greens weren’t as fast as they normally are,” he said, “but (his players are) getting better at it.”