She did it again! Rylee Salome captures record-tying title

If it wasn’t etched in stone before, the golfing legacy of Rylee Salome has certainly been cemented now.

Salome won her fourth straight 4A New Mexico Girls Championship Tuesday, joining an exclusive club. Salome joins January Romero and Edie Murdoch as the only golfers in New Mexico history to win four individual girls titles.

Belen’s Salome maintained an arms-length lead Monday and Tuesday during most of the two rounds on the challenging layout at Pinon Hills Golf Course in Farmington.

After completing the 18th hole Tuesday, Salome had to wait about 90 minutes for her closest rival, Kirtland Central freshman Hayden Dan, to complete her round.

“It was a little nerve-wracking out there,” a relieved Salome said in a phone interview shortly after the five-stroke victory became official. “I’m just excited, blessed.”

With her first round complete, a one-over par 73, Salome held a slim one-shot advantage over Dan.

“I struggled at the beginning,” Salome said of her Monday effort, which included a double-bogey on No. 9 to put her three over par at that point.

It was no surprise to Donald Marquez, BHS coach, that Salome steadied herself.

“Her grit” is what stands out to Marquez. “Even when she doesn’t hit it well, she finds a way. It just shows what type of a champion she is.”

Also impressed was Pete Herrera, Los Lunas resident, retired Associated Press writer and something of a New Mexico golf encyclopedia.

Herrera, who attended the championship as a fan, observed, “She hits her drives from 50 to 100 yards past her competition.”

Herrera called a downhill chip from behind the green on day one that Salome drained for a birdie, “the shot of the tournament — It was amazing.”

As Salome was about to tee off on her final hole, she took her first glance at the leader board. Dan, the Kirtland Central golfer, was still within striking distance, although five or six holes behind.

Facing a gusty wind directly into her face, Salome landed her approach shot to within about 20 feet of the cup.

“That was probably my best shot, honestly,” Salome said, especially “coming down the stretch, the pressure.”

Salome’s putt lipped out, denying a theatrical ending, but the tap-in par secured a final round one-under par 71 and the victory over Dan, who struggled coming home. Salome finished at even par, 144, with Dan runnerup after a 75 left her at 149, five over par for the tournament.

Herrera, who has followed New Mexico golf since Nancy Lopez exploded onto the scene, calls Salome, “One of the best three or four” female high school golfers in state history.

With her prep career now over, Salome will head to New Mexico State University on a golf scholarship, grateful for what she has accomplished, thankful for the help she’s received. “I feel so blessed,” Salome said about her support system, including family, coaches and the Belen High School community.

Also competing this week for BHS in the girl’s tournament was senior Jadarose Wright, 35th at +66. Wright has also qualified for the 4A State Track Championships later this week. In the boys’ 4A championship, the Eagles Eli O’Canna, a junior, shot a two-round total of +18, good for 18th.

In the boys’ 5A tournament at nearby San Juan Country Club, Los Lunas had two competitors; Tyler Stephenson, freshman, finished an impressive 12th in the field at +20, while junior Dylan Chavez was 20th with a score of +27.

Albuquerque Academy captured both the boys and girls 4A team championships. In 5A, Volcano Vista edged La Cueva in a playoff for the boys’ title, while Piedra Vista is the girls’ champion.