The Monsignor Kelly Catholic High School boys golf team delivered a statement performance April 15 at the TAPPS 5A District 4 Championship, finishing second out of 11 teams and securing a spot at the TAPPS Regional Tournament in San Antonio.
The Bulldogs posted their lowest team score of the season with a 301, falling just two strokes short of district champions The Woodlands Christian Academy (299) in a tightly contested event.
Sophomore Christian Mathews led the Bulldogs with a career-best 2-under-par 70, earning a fourth-place individual finish in a field packed with elite talent. The included several college commits and some of the top high school players in the country. His under-par round was one of only four posted in the entire tournament and helped position Kelly squarely in the hunt for the team title.
“Our boys put forth a tremendous effort, and it really showed in the results,” said head coach Rob Long. “To shoot our lowest score of the year at the district tournament is a huge accomplishment, even when we didn’t have our best. We came up just two strokes short of the title, but that close finish proves we can compete with the very best, even when we don’t all play great at the same time. Christian’s under-par round and the across-the-board solid scores give us a lot of confidence heading into Regionals.”
Kelly complete team scorecard:
Christian Mathews (4th place) – 70
Julian Mathews (11th place) – 76
Lucian Mazzola (12th place) – 77
Reece Williams (13th place) – 78
Skylyn Fisher (23rd place) – 81
This strong, top-to-bottom performance was critical, as the Bulldogs’ four counting scores (70-76-77-78) combined to reach their season-best mark of 301 – placing them just behind TWCA and comfortably ahead of Third-Place Second Baptist.
The Top 5 teams from District advance to the TAPPS Regional Tournament on Monday, April 28, along with the Top 10 individual qualifiers.