In a dazzling display of concentration and focus, the Mason High School golf program concluded the 2025 District 29-2A tournament by returning home April 7 with three championship plaques.
The Punchers and the Cowgirls are the team district champions, while Mason II finished as the runner-up in the girls division. The tournament was played at the Llano River Golf Course March 31 and April 7.
The competition and even Mother Nature did plenty to challenge the teams the morning of the final round. Golfers arrived for the 9:00 a.m. start only to be told frost was on the course and there was a delay of an hour. And when they did get the round going, a constant chilly wind blew throughout the four-and-a-half hour event.
Head coach Kade Burns said what makes his golfers tough to beat is 'their drive.'
'These kids have the work ethic,' he said. 'They really work hard and success breeds success. It's really nice to see both of our first teams get first and then our other team get second. We've never taken this many kids to regionals. We have 19 kids that play golf and 15 of them are going to regionals. And the other boys team played really, really well.'
In the girls division, the three-time defending state champion scored a 338-334--672.
Individually, no girl can do what the trio of Ainsley Burns, Ruby Hills and Bronwyn Underwood can score. Burns shot a 76-70--146 to finish as the individual district champion, while 'Ainsley played well, which is nice to see,' her dad and coach said. 'She'd been struggling with the putter, but she competed well. Ruby played well.'
Mason II scored a 439-426--865 led by Sophia Jordan's 106-99--205, Grace Klaerner's 108-108--216, Brynlee Cawley's 116-105--221, Kylie Kimbriel's 109-114--223, and Cameron Asbill's 120-123--243.
The Punchers were equally good in a very competitive tournament.
Mason I finished with a 335-322--657 led by Kalen Langehennig's 79-80--159, good enough for third in the individual standings. Teammate Cade Dudney scored a 79-81--160 to finish fourth in the individual standings. Other team members include Grant Nobles with an 88-80--168, Hudson Terrell with an 89-81--170, and Ray Row with a 97-81--178.
The coach said the play of Dudney, Nobles, Row and Terrell pleased him.
'They improved by 17 shots,' he said. 'That's hard to do.' Mason II shot a 342-325--667. It was led by Keegan Ratliff's 100-99--199, Cooper Ratliff's 94-105--209, Jackson Contrucci's 105-104--209, and Hudson Contrucci's 113-112-225.
'We always talk to them about if you only work an hour a day at something, you're not going to be very good at it,' Kade Burns said. 'You have to be able to put some time in and golf is very difficult. Just because you put in more time doesn't necessarily mean you will play better. So you have to be patient. I'm proud of the way we played today – we played well.'
San Saba was the team runner-up with a 342-325--667. Goldthwaite sophomore and defending Class 2A state champion Walt Thompson won the boys individual district championship with a 74-70--144.
Burns said 'those are some good scores' in the boys division from Mason, San Saba and Goldthwaite.
'They enjoy playing,' he said. 'They enjoy competing and they do a lot of extra stuff and what it takes to be successful.'
The regional tournament is at Lozano Golf Course, 4401 Old Brownsville Road in Corpus Christi. The boys will play Monday and Tuesday, April 14-15, while the girls will compete Wednesday and Thursday, April 16-17.
