The News staff report

BASTROP — A triple bogey on Wolfdancer Golf Club’s par-4, 16th hole put a damper on an otherwise solid round by Port Neches-Groves sophomore Josh Elmore Monday at the 5A state golf tournament and left Elmore with a long-shot chance of claiming a medal.
Elmore was rolling along one over par through 15 holes when he drove the ball into a fairway hazard that was closer than he thought. He tried to play the ball out of the hazard, finally got on the green in four, then three-putted. He wound up signing off on a 77 and was tied for 17th.
Meanwhile, Karlei Hemler and Brynna Bailey — the two players representing the PN-G girls’ team at state — didn’t fare well. Hemler shot an 80 and is tied for 13th, while Bailey, after a 50 on the front nine, bounced back with a 40 to shoot 90.
PN-G boys coach Ricky Keyes said Elmore was in command of his game until the 16th.
“It was really unfortunate for Josh because he was playing well,” said Keyes. “He hit eight greens on the front but just couldn’t get a birdie putt to fall. He would have been within reach of second place if it wasn’t for that 7.”
Austin Vandergriff’s Cooper Dossey, who will be a teammate of PN-G ex Braden Bailey next year at Baylor, owned a five-shot lead after firing a six-under par 66. Only two other players broke par on a day when the length of time players were forced to spend on the golf course left everybody grumbling.
It took all three PN-G players over seven hours to play 18 holes as the UIL put girls and boys on the same course. Keyes said Elmore had two different holes where he waited on the tee for over 30 minutes.
“There were just too many players on the golf course,” he said. “From what I’m told, they are going to have the girls and boys tournaments on separate weeks next year. They need to change something. Last year the final groups finished in the dark.”