Alcorta claims Rio Mimbres men's golf title
DEMING – Jake Alcorta bested the field of 18 golfers to claim the 2022 championship of the Rio Mimbres Men’s Golf Association in Deming this past weekend. Alcorta is a junior at Silver High School and the Fighting Colts top golfer heading into the 2022-23 season. He was the runner-up at the Class 4A State Golf Championships in May and is expected to be a top contender competition next school year.
Alcorta, 16, was consistent on the Rio Mimbres Golf Course with rounds of 68-69 to card a tournament low 137 for the two-day, 26-hole event. Championship flight scoring was low gross.
“The championship flights were split into A and B groups to allow for more competitive scoring,” said RMCC Golf Pro James Williams. “The course played well. The added rains helped, and the course was set up to make scoring difficult.”
There was a total of 60 golfers competing in four flights on Saturday and Sunday.
“I had been wanting to play this tournament for some time. My friends here in Deming encouraged me to play, and I am glad I did,” Alcorta said. The friends he mentioned are members of Deming High’s state championship golf team. The high school rivals are good friends and fierce competitors on the golf course.
DHS will drop down to Class 4A next season and the ‘Cats and Colts are expected to challenge for district and state championships. Nick Williams.
“Everything was going well for me,” Alcorta said of Saturday’s opening round. “Putts were falling, wedges were good, and I just kept the ball in play.” He would finish the day with six birdies and a solid 4-under 68.
Sunday, Alcorta went into survival mode. He continued to putt well and found the fairways straight on. “Sunday was about having fun,” Alcorta said. “Make birdies when I could and make pars when had the chance. My putting was solid this weekend and the course played well. Loved the greens, fairways were clean and tee boxes were nice.”
Alcorta plans to turn his attention to the Sun Country Junior PGA Championship in August.
Deming High's own Tyler Jackson finished second with his 143-stroke count (70-73). Jackson is a member of the Wildcats' state championship team. Aaron “Nemo” Perales and Vari Mariscal tied for third at 144. Perales checked in with rounds of 69-75 and Mariscal carded rounds of 71-73. Mariscal is also a member of the Wildcats' Class 5A State Championship team.
Derek Almanza won the Championship Flight B. His 148 (71-77) bested veteran golfer Jimmy Galindo who shot 70-80 (150). Cooper Jackson placed third with his 158 (77-81).
Each flight played gross and net scores. Zach Jasso was the best in that group with a 157 (79-78). Net winners were Jordan Perales, 142; Jerome Sandoval, 155; and tied for third were Pancho Almanza and James Enriquez, 156.
Memo Ramirez and Noel Nunez tied for low-gross honors in the Second Flight at 163. The top low-net golfers were Henry Zavala, 147; and Tommy Maldonado, 149.
Damian Lowell captured the Third Flight low-gross title with a 175. Tony Garcia topped the low net with a 157 and there was a tie for second tie between Tom Long and Fernie Holguin, 158.
Ernie Arrey won the low-gross in the Fourth Flight at 185. Net winners were Joseph Wiseman, 150; Noah Holguin, 156; and David Holguin, 157.
“This was a great turnout for our men’s championship,” Williams told the Headlight. “The association is healthy by numbers and golfing has been on the uptick since the pandemic protocols have been relaxed. The course played well, and the rains helped.”
Williams reminds the public the 68th annual Rio Mimbres Invitational Golf Tournament tees off July 14-17 in Deming.
Bill Armendariz can be reached at 575-494-5059 or biarmendariz@demingheadlight.com.
This article originally appeared on Deming Headlight: Alcorta claims Rio Mimbres men's golf title
