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RIO COMMUNITIES — Considering the recent freezing temperatures, Sunday at Tierra Del Sol Golf Course was balmy by comparison, tolerable for what may have been the first golf tournament of the year in New Mexico.
The 18-hole event was pushed back an hour to 11 a.m. to let the frost burn off, and as the shotgun start drew closer, knit caps, vests and heavy jackets started to peel off in favor of traditional golfing garb.
“Even with the weather being this cold, it still makes you want to get out there and compete,” said Adolpho Iturralde, who admitted he had an “itch” to get back on the course.
The inaugural Tierra Del Sol Championship, part of what is called the New Mexico Tour, may have humble beginnings, but the founders of the event have big plans.
“The big goal for the (New Mexico Tour) is to become a mini tour for players that want to play professionally,” said Carlos Carrasco, who along with Max Montoya, Clinton Tabet and Craig Tabet developed the idea.
This quartet all live in Valencia County, with the Tabets owners of the golf course.
“What we’ve learned is that there are enough of these golf addicts,” said Carrasco, giving him hope that the tour will take off. “I’m addicted to the dang thing.”
The New Mexico Tour is in its second season, with tournaments, about one each month, scheduled around the state. It started in November at Isleta Golf Course with future stops that include Las Cruces, Albuquerque, Socorro and the Four Corners.
The genesis for the tour, according to Carrasco, came from the lack of quality golf events in the state.
“There just weren’t enough for me. So, I said, ‘Screw it. I need to start something to fill that competitive void I was looking for.’”
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That void lingered after Carrasco retired following a long run coaching baseball at Valencia High School.
Iturralde was one of Carrasco’s former players, who didn’t take up golf until after graduation from VHS in 2018.
“If I knew how fun golf is, I would have,” started sooner, Iturralde said. Just three years after picking up golf, Iturralde is already an impressive nine-handicap.
The Tierra Del Sol Championship drew a field of 69 golfers, and Carrasco admits this endeavor is not profitable, yet.
“Everything is covering startup costs, like software and marketing. It’s not a money-maker at the moment, but that is definitely the hope that it does become a tour or business.”
The tournament featured divisions for men and women, from pro and scratch golfers to beginners. The next tour stop is Feb. 15 in Albuquerque at Ladera Golf Course.
More information can be found at nmgt.net.
Tournament winners
Open division-Andrew Tapia (Raton) 69
First flight-Joe Davis (Belen) and Ricco Tapia (Albuquerque) 75. Davis won on a scorecard playoff
Second flight-Mike Baca (Los Lunas) 78
Third flight-Gerald Martinez (Belen) 86
Fourth flight-Adrian Perea (Los Lunas) 86
Seniors-James Silva (Arizona) 76
Ladies-Roberta Murzyn (Belen) 99
