El Reno freshman Jeremy Foreman watches his chip shot on the 11th hole Thursday during the Del City Invitational at Trosper Golf Club.(Photo/Glen Miller)

By Glen Miller/Sports Editor

OKLAHOMA CITY — El Reno High School’s boys golf team played nearly every inch of Trosper Golf Club’s 6,601-foot layout Thursday during the 2006 Del City Invitational — and they did it without returning state qualifier Alex Weaver.

Weaver skipped the tournament due to a sore ankle so that he could play in the Indians soccer win over Western Heights.

“He hit a few balls and played three holes the night before and he had a birdie and two pars,” El Reno head coach Ken Posey said.

“But he tried to hit a few at the range Thursday morning and couldn’t.”

Posey opted to keep Weaver out.

“I wanted to make sure we have him healthy for tournaments we have this week and the regional tournament,” Posey said.

With Weaver out, El Reno had three freshmen in the lineup for Del City, which was played from Trosper’s championship length. That brought the course’s famed oak trees into playoff on most tee boxes.

“The trees did come into play and we need to make sure we get out of them sooner than we did,” Posey said.

“They had the course tipped out and that made it play longer and harder.”

El Reno carded a 369 to finish back in the pack. Mustang, Edmond North and Westmoore all shot under 300 for the event.

Freshman R.J. Mullaney had the low round for El Reno with a 85, followed by classmate Jeremy Foreman’s 93 and a 95 by junior Brian Gatz. Austin Douglas carded 96 and freshman Jake Swartz had a 99.

Indians fifth in Suburban

El Reno carded a 679 for the 36-hole Suburban Conference Championships. Chickasha won the title with a 597, followed by Carl Albert’s 607 and Shawnee’s 614. Noble was fourth with a 671.

Weaver picked up his third straight all-conference nod by shooting a 148 (74-74) to finish in a fifth-place tie. Mullaney carded a 164 (85-79), followed by Swartz’s 179 (90-89) and Douglas’s 185 (90-95).

Gatz posted 18-hole totals of 99-95 for a 194 and freshman Jeffrey Long had a 103-106 for a 209.