Volume 44, Issue 11. Today is
Thunderbird squads getting it done on the links
While some people may be, MCC golf coach John Gueverra is not at all suprised by the fact that his women’s golf team is already shooting for their third consecutive tournament victory.
After all, last year was the first year the team didn’t win their conference in the past seven seasons.
“We have a real good group of girls who are working really hard,” Gueverra said. “I am not at all suprised that they are playing this well this season.”
The women’s latest tournament came at the Gateway Invitational at the Bougainviella Golf Course in Laveen, AZ on Feb. 19 and 20.
The women won the event by four strokes over second place rival Scottsdale Community College.
The Lady Thunderbirds shot a team score of 502 over the two day event, which was shortened on the second day due to inclement weather.
Leading the way for the Thunderbirds was freshman sensation Lindi Covarrubias who was the individual champion of the invitational. Covarrubias shot an impressive 2-day total of 116 to earn a three-stroke victory.
Gueverra has very high praise for his young standout.
“She is a Division I caliber golfer who was one of the top players in the state both her junior and senior years of high school,” Gueverra said. “We are definitely happy to have her.”
Gueverra added that Covarrubias, who is one of four freshmen on the MCC golf team, has the potential to play for a four year universtiy when her time at MCC is over.
Covarrubias also took a second place finish at the Phoenix College Invitational early in February, and event the Lady T-birds also won. She also finished 5th at the Western New Mexico University Cactus Thaw Tournament in New Mexico, an event that included NCAA Division I teams.
Also golfing well for the T-birds has been fellow freshman Jennifer Lutz who finished with a score of 123 at the Gateway Invite, good enough for a 6th place finish.
While the boys golf team has not fared quite as well as their female counterparts, they finished 4th in the Pima Invitational held at the Rio Rico Golf Course in Tucson, Gueverra feels that his men’s team can turn it around.
“We are following a very successful season coming off last year,” Gueverra said, “and know we just have to come out and look a little harder.”
The men will play in their second ACCAC tournament March 5 and 6 at the South Mountain Invitational at the Aguila Country Club in Laveen, AZ.
The women’s team will next play host at the Mesa Invitational at the Dobson Ranch Golf Course in Mesa. Tee off both days is at noon
They will attempting to win their third consecutive tournament.
Coach Gueverra says admission to the invitational is free to the public and encourages any support for his team.
The men’s team will also be hosting thier own version of the Thunderbird Invitational on April 18-19. The tournament will also take place at the Dobson Ranch Golf Course. Admission to that tournament is also free.