Cadet Ontiveros Finishes in Top 20 at 2023 State Golf Tourney

Cadet Gabriel Ontiveros, a Missouri Military Academy junior from Monterrey, Mexico, competed in the Class 2 Missouri state 2023 golf tournament at Rivercut Golf Course in Springfield, Missouri, in May. Although he missed the all-state cut, he finished 20th out of approximately 80 golfers with a score of 171, improving his day 1 score by a stroke.

Above, Ontiveros displays his district golf medal on May 8, 2023. He finished third in districts with a score of 81. The team finished with a score of 374. Other individual scores included Cadets Johnston, 94; Roach, 101; Gastelum, 98; and Morais, 114.

“He did amazing,” MMA Golf Coach Anthony Yannielli said, as quoted in a May 20 Mexico Ledger article on Ontiveros's efforts at state. “I watched him nail a 30-foot birdie putt, and the excitement of not just me but him and the rest of the team that got to go and watch (was noticeable). He’ll look back on those holes he didn't do well on, and we’ll improve on those. I couldn’t be any prouder of how he played, and he’s like a son to me so I feel a part of this accomplishment that he feels.”

Missouri Military Academy Cadet Ontiveros receives encouragement from Coach Yannielli at a tournament in March 2023.

Ontiveros has been playing since age 15. He works with Yannielli and a professional swing coach to improve his game.

The MMA cadet golfer says the support of Yannielli and his MMA teammates who accompanied him to the state competition made the event even more memorable.

“We got the privilege of taking the team, so it got us all more together,” Ontiveros told the Mexico Ledger in the May 20 article. “They were of great support. Hopefully, we’ll take the whole team next time.”

Yannielli says he hopes that Ontiveros' accomplishment will help motivate his MMA teammates to qualify for the state tournament next year. With four varsity golfers returning for next year, Yannielli believes the MMA golf team has the potential for even greater success in the future. The team's dedication, supported by new resources at MMA, such as a golf simulator that was recently added, sets the stage for continued improvement and pride in their accomplishments.