By Bob West
For the News

Sealy — On a day that started with realistic hopes of advancing to state for both the Port Neches-Groves boys and girls golf teams, only Karlei Hemler managed to avoid disappointment at River Ridge Golf Club.
Hemler assured there will be one more chapter in her sparkling career for the Lady Indians by finishing second in Region III, 5A medal competition. The McNeese State recruit added a two-over par 74 Tuesday to an opening 73 for a 36-hole total of 147.
Leah Alberto of Kingwood Park won te girls gold medal after tacking a 72
on to Tuesday’s 73 for a 145. No other player finished close to Alberto or
Hemler.
While Hemler was able to celebrate a third trip to state, both PN-G teams
came up empty, as did the Indians Josh Elmore.
Elmore, who won regional last year as a sophomore, skidded to an 80
Wednesday and dropped from third to a tie for 8th at 155. That left him 11
strokes behind medalist H.D. Chang of Cedar Park, who put up 72 for the second
consecutive day.
Needing at least a third place finish to advance to state, the PN-G boys wound up four shots behind No. 3 Lindale. Cedar Park won with 623, besting Magnolia by six shots. Lindale was at 651.
The PN-G girls also came in fourth, but were 17 strokes behind third-place Huntsville’s 704. Kingwood Park won with 625. Magnolia came in second at 632.
“It is disappointing for us not to be going to state,” said PN-G boys coach Ricky Keyes. “But I am proud of our kids for getting closer than anybody could have expected going into the season. We had four players with no varsity experience. They came a long way.”
The real downer for PN-G was playing the 18th hole a collective seven over par.
PN-G, after shooting 327 on day one, posted a 328 on Wednesday. The bright spots were Timothy Feemster’s 77 to tie Elmore at 155 and Chase Selman’s 10-stroke improvement from 89 to 79 for 168. Bryce Parlsey finished at 177 after a 92.
The PN-G girls, after shooting 355 on Tuesday, slipped to 366 Wednesday.
Brynna Bailey carded her second 88 for 176, Kensey Dukes shot 99 for 195 and Rian Weatherford  was at 212 after a 114.

Nederland’s boys, meanwhile, shot 353 on Wednesday to finish 12th. Daniel Cormier and Tyler Wallie both improved six shots from 88 to 82 to post 170.
Brendan Marley followed an 81 with a 97 for 178 and Brice Perrymam carded a 97 for 186.
Hemler will have a couple of weeks to hone her game for the 5A state championship. It will be played May 15-16 at Wolfdancer Golf Club in Bastrop.