Bearcats open season in elite tourney

Pretty much any golf team that has state championship aspirations was in Fort Worth this past weekend for the Bart Granger Memorial tournament at Pecan Valley Golf Course. 

That included the Aledo Bearcats as they began the fall portion of the 2023-24 season.

The tournament, named after the late Fort Worth Paschal golfer who died in an automobile accident in October of 1997, is normally a 54-hole event on the River Course with two rounds on Friday and one on Saturday. However, it was shortened to 36 holes because the course had some damage from inclement weather.

The tournament annually features some of the very best teams, not only in Texas but also often from across the nation. This year's field, though all Texas teams, included 48 teams from Fort Worth to San Antonio to Houston and all points in between and around.

The Bearcats shot a 593 over two days, opening with a 290 and finishing with a 303, to finish 21st. Dallas Jesuit won with a 546 (272-274), followed by Houston Memorial with a 548 (274-274).

Aledo's top individual finisher was Jett Moore, shot a 141 over two days. He opened with a 72 and came back with a 1-under-par 69 on the second.

Charlie Wylie of Houston Memorial won the individual title, shooting a 131 (65-66).

Also for the Bearcats, Helton Mosiello shot 145 (70-75), Braden Stokes came in with a 147 (70-77), Cade Moore posted a 161 (79-82) and Ethan Elmore had a 162 (78-84).

The four lowest scores in each round comprise the team score.

"The boys played great for the first tournament of the year," coach Brian Mourning said. "The second day we left some shots out there, which would have moved up on the board as a team against some of the best teams in the state in 5A-6A. Really proud of the guys and the way they played."

The Bearcats Orange team was playing its first tournament of the season at press time in the Dragon Fall Invitational at Waterchase Golf Club in Fort Worth. The Black team will next compete at the Jay Brewer Memorial in Texarkana Oct. 13-14.