BHS Eagle Salome chasing historic four-peat at state golf

At the state high school golf championships head next week to New Mexico’s Four Corners, with much attention on Belen’s Rylee Salome, who goes north after taking the district title Monday as expected.

As Salome putted around the practice green last week at Tierra Del Sol Golf Club, there was a relaxed smile mixed with her usual focus.

A lot is going on with Salome, who will wrap up her high school golf career May 12-13 at the 4A State Championship at Pinon Hills Country Club in Farmington.

“It is a little bit sad but also just exciting for the next chapter,” said Salome.

That next chapter is at New Mexico State University, where Salome will tee it up for the Aggies. Before that, Salome will try to add to her legacy by winning a fourth state championship to tie the record for most titles, shared by New Mexico golfing legends January Romero and Edie Murdoch.

“It’s been pretty good,” Salome said of her preparation for this year’s state tournament. “I feel like I’m playing pretty well, getting more distance than in the off-season, which has really helped.”

“Anything can happen,” said Donald Marquez, Belen coach, “but she’s obviously the clear-cut favorite.”

Salome won the state title by nine strokes last year, and two weeks ago shot a personal best 64 at the Links at Sierra Blanca.

“Riley wants to prove a point,” Marquez said about winning four championships. “She’s the most competitive girl golfer that I’ve ever seen.”

It was a rare occasion indeed at the 4A state preview, which gives golfers a taste of the state tournament course. For the first time in several years, Salome did not win.

“I didn’t play my best, honestly,” Salome acknowledged. “I felt like I learned a lot about the course, where I need to miss, and how to play it.”

Belen did not qualify for the championship as a team, either the Eagles girls or boys, but Eli O’Canna and Jadarose Wright did qualify individually.

Wright, a senior, will also compete in the state track and field championship next week.

“Jada is amazing,” Marquez brags. “She goes to both practices. She doesn’t complain, she just comes and works hard.”

Marquez says his inexperienced boys’ team has shown improvement, led by O’Canna and Mark Gabaldon.

At Los Lunas, the Tigers are without Jonah Utash, who took third in 2024, leading LLHS to a fifth-place finish at the 5A State Championship.

Utash opted not to play high school golf this season, but he will be in action this week in the state playoffs for the Tigers’ baseball team.

Ray Coleman, the first-year coach for both LLHS and Valencia, sees potential in both programs. That was in evidence Monday, when the Los Lunas boys’ captured the district team title, earning a place in the 5A Championship at San Juan Country Club.

In addition, Tyler Stephenson earned medalist honors and Coleman was named district coach of the year. Stephenson competed last season as an eighth grader.

“He is playing lights out,” said Coleman, pointing to a recent round of 79 at Black Mesa Golf Club in Espanola.

While Stephenson said his first few tournaments were “rough,” he doesn’t mind being a team leader.

“I’ve been playing with kids older than me all my life, in any sport,” Stephenson said. “It feels normal to me.”

Valencia also has plenty of youth, and potential, led by sophomores Jesse Chavez and Raymond Martinez, who just started to play golf. “I just like the sport,” said Martinez. “I just wanted to learn everything about it.”

VHS did not field a full boys team this season. Both the VHS and LLHS girls played a junior varsity schedule, looking to build for the future.