Westlake freshman takes charge while Chaps duo attempts state golf history

GEORGETOWN — Westlake golfers Matthew Denton and Thomas Bockholt are on the verge of an impressive milestone.

If Westlake claims its third straight state golf championship, Denton and Bockholt will become the first golfers to be part of three Class 6A boys team titles. After the Chaparrals completed the first round of the UIL state championship Monday at Legacy Hills Golf Club, the chances they’ll reach their individual acclaim look pretty good.

With freshman Jacob Sosa shooting a 3-under par 69, the Chaps opened a seven-stroke lead over Vandegrift heading into Tuesday's final round.

“I know golf is an individual sport, but it would mean so much to do this as a team,” said Bockholt, who finished with a 71.

Sosa is in a three-way tie for individual honors with Houston Stratford's Drew Murdock and Belton's Dallas Hankamer. As a team, Westlake finished with a one-over-par 289. Team scores are comprised of the four best individual scores out of five team members' marks.

To no one’s surprise, Sosa committed to Texas last month, following in his father’s footsteps. John Sosa was an All-State golfer from El Paso before becoming an All-Southwest Conference and All-American for the Longhorns.

What would it mean to win state as a freshman?

“It means no one would ever beat that record,” Sosa said.

Rounding out the Westlake scores were J. Holland Humphries (74), Denton (75) and Sean-Karl Dobson (77).

Vandegrift, led by Luke Dossey’s 71, enters the final round within striking distance. Cole Sherwood (74), Wyatt Speaks (75), Jack Wehman (76) and Colin Slater (77) rounded out the scoring for the Vipers.

Among the teams trying to unseat Westlake as state champion is a group of golfers the Chaps see daily in practice: Westlake's No. 2 team.

Led by senior Hayes Haydon, who fired a 72, the No. 2 team finished with an overall score of 299, good for third place, 10 strokes off the lead. Senior John Luke Powell (74), junior Blake Benson (74), junior Hunter McDonough (79) and junior Jackson Davenport (79) rounded out the team scoring.

A pair of Lake Travis golfers qualified for state as individuals. Junior Trey Bosco, a Baylor pledge, shot a 2-under 70 while junior Nathan Petronzio fired a 74.

Bosco might have had the shot of the day when he scored a double-eagle on the 562-yard, par-5 seventh hole. After driving the ball into the left rough, his second shot from 131 yards rolled into the cup.

“I didn’t even see it go in because I was on an elevated green,” Bosco said. “I went over and jumped on my coach (Richard Wager) and celebrated.”

Speaking of amazing shots, Vandegrift's Speaks had a hole-in-one on the 183-yard, par-3 12th hole. It was his third hole-in-one, the first since he was 12.

Last year Westlake won state by eight strokes over Vandegrift. Last week Westlake’s girls won the 6A championship on the same course.