State of Mind: Catron looking for title

College scholarships, television interviews and a state title are the things that have consumed Collin Catron's life the past three weeks.

The Gila Ridge golfer has an opportunity to knock out the latter  starting today, with the two-day 5A-II State Golf Tournament beginning today.

Catron is the lone representative of the Yuma-area after Gila Ridge and Cibola failed to qualify as teams during their super regional meets. At least, Catron is the lone boys representive as the Kofa girls team qualified for the 5A-I tourney at Aguila Golf Course in Laveen. The Gila Ridge girls qualified for the 5A-II meet at Maryvale Golf Course.

 Catron placed second at the super regional and at the regional meet on his way to an automatic qualification. But that was far from satisfactory for Catron who began this season with four goals: win district, regional, super regional and state.

Catron tied for first in the regional, but lost on a scorecard playoff.

He also led the super regional after the first round, in which he carded a 3-under 69, but shot a 77 on Day 2 to finish second.

"It was a learning experience," Catron said, regarding his loss at regionals. "The hole that I lost on is where I missed a 3-foot putt and I just got a sense it was going to be very costly."

Catron said it was a very disheartening moment, just one that has  underscored a difficult playing career at Gila Ridge.

 A two-year varsity player at Yuma High, Catron opted to attend Gila Ridge when the school opened. But after a string of problems, which included his family not moving into Gila Ridge's zone, he was forced to sit out last season.

 Now he has the opportunity to overcome that setback and perform on a  level that catches college coach’s attention.

 “Coaches pay attention to super regionals and state, not individual  matches,” Gila Ridge coach David Schultz said. “This is an opportunity for him to prove himself at a collegiate level.”

 The only thing Schultz said that may stand in the way of Catron and a state title is Collin’s apprehension.

 The Gila Ridge coach said that he’s told Catron to play more aggressively heading into the state meet.

 “He’s at his best when he is in attack mode,” Schultz said. “It’s when he backs off and plays easily that he gets overly upset at himself. But he knows that and know that’s something he needs to improve on to make it at that next level.”

 The message may be sinking in for Catron. He said he’s more relaxed heading into this match and that he will stick with an aggressive playing style.

 “It's more about making the right decisions and not laying back,” Catron said. “You've got to trust your swing and stick to it.”

 But the match will also be an audition for Catron who will be playing in front of the head coach from South Mountain College. It’ll be his first time playing in front of a college coach.

 Catron said that it is important for him to perform against the tougher Phoenix-based competition.

 “You don't get to see as good a competition in Yuma as you do in  Phoenix,” Catron said. “People don't understand how good that city is. It's probably, easily, top five in America.”