First full team of the season, first victory.
That was the equation for success for the Durango High School boys golf team Wednesday at Devils Thumb Golf Club in Delta.
The Demons’ varsity club combined for a score of 225, beating Montrose by three strokes for the squad’s first tournament victory of the young season.
Cory Gillespie and Cy Spicer both fired rounds of 2-over-par 74 on the prairie-style course that measures 7,176 yards and features more than 60 sand bunkers and three lakes.
It was Spicer’s first tournament of the season after missing two the opening week.
Gillespie was coming off a week of hard work after shooting 92 at Red Mesa. The talented senior is working on his game after elbow surgery last fall. Four birdies on the day helped make matters easier.
“We hit the driving range and worked on some things and shot some video. He’s been working hard making a few corrections, mostly with his setup,” DHS head coach Kirk Rawles said. “Looking at his scorecard, he had an 11-hole stretch where he was 4 under.”
Senior Cameron Barnhardt also made his debut Wednesday, and he shot a 77 to give the Demons three players under 80.
“Cameron had a double (bogey) on the first and a double on 18. He played 1 over for 16 holes,” Rawles said. “He had a lot of good stuff going on.”
Junior Kobe Szura recorded a 10-over 82, and senior Eric Walker was one stroke behind him with an 83.
Montrose’s team score of 228 was led by Glen-Michael Mihavetz’s 2-under 70, but he was outdone by Steamboat Springs’ Britt Walton, who shot 69 to earn medalist honors. The Sailors finished third at 230.
The Demons also fielded their first full junior varsity squad of the season Wednesday, and the junior Demons didn’t disappoint by winning with a score of 260, one better than Montrose.
Lucas Robbins paced the JV squad with an 84. Robby Grogan, Blake Martin and Kyle Pritchard all shot 88, and Luke Naper scored 102.
Rawles said Grogan had the Demons’ hole of the day when he recorded an eagle on a par-4 by driving the green and making a 10-foot putt.
DHS will be back in action Thursday at Cobble Creek Golf Course in Montrose.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
