Reed Blacklock leads Liberty boys to state golf championship

One year in, the Lubbock-Cooper Liberty boys golf team can call themselves state champions.

The Patriots ran away with the team championship in the Class 3A state boys golf tournament, which concluded Tuesday at Grey Rock Golf Club. Liberty shot a 617 for the two-day meet, which was 27 strokes ahead of runner-up Brock.

Reed Blacklock was a big piece to the team championship. He shot a 69 in the first round and a 74 in the second to wrap the tournament at 143, winning the individual title by a one-stroke margin.

His teammates weren't too far behind him. Colton Bichard came in sixth at 154. Lane Lewis followed with a 158 and Jackson Ballou shot a 164. Cole Barr withdrew from the tournament.

Shallowater's Bryson Clark had a day himself, tying for third place to earn the bronze individual medal. Clark shot a 148 and tied with Corsicana Mildred's Landon Reece for the honor.

Idalou's Kallaway Soto shot a 180.

Class 2A

New Home held off a late charge from Albany to take second place as a team in the Class 2A boys golf tournament at Lions Municipal Golf Course.

The Leopards shot a 635 for the tournament to finish nine strokes behind team champion Sonora.

Zack Armes led the way for New Home by shooting a 147, good for fifth place individually. Owen Morris was two shots behind and tied for sixth. Graham Keys fired a 169 and Rogan Haislip a 172.

Sundown's Isaiah Igo won earned the silver medal after outlasting Centerville's Ty Chrisman on three playoff holes. Igo and Chrisman each shot 145s to tie for second before Igo got the win in sudden death.

The Sundown team took seventh in the field. Adan Escamilla shot a 162.

Class 5A

Lubbock-Cooper's Kyler Ezell wrapped up his time at the Class 5A state boys golf tournament with an eight-stroke improvement from his first day at Legacy Hills Golf Club.

Ezell shot an 80 during Monday's first round and closed play with a 72 on Tuesday. He finished an equivalent of 30th in the individual standings.

Class 6A

Frenship's Hunter Welch shot an 80 on Tuesday at White Wing Golf Club to conclude the 6A state boys golf meet.

Welch, the Region I-6A champion, finished the two-day tournament with a 157 to finish out his high school career.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Blacklock leads Liberty boys to state golf championship