The Durango High School boys golf team had a strong showing in its season opener at the Montezuma-Cortez Panther Invitational on Thursday.
The Demons finished the tournament at Conquistador Golf Course in Cortez with a team score of 35-over-par, which was good for third place out of eight teams.
All five Demons finished in the top 20, and all five finished within five shots of each other.
Durango coach Kirk Rawles said he was happy with the third-place finish but was more encouraged by the scoring balance from the Demons.
“The wild thing is all five have the potential to break 80,” Rawles said. “We have a balanced team and we don’t have to rely on one individual. That grouping will be able to push each other back and forth and start shaving strokes off their scores.”
Grand Junction won the event with a team score of 12-over, followed by Fruita Monument in second at 21-over. Montezuma-Cortez placed fourth with a team score of 39-over.
Cortez’s Cris Rudosky took medalist honors against Telluride’s Carlo Pine on a scorecard playoff. The two shot round of 1-under 71.
Kyle Pritchard, who missed last season with an elbow injury, led the Demons with a 10-over 82 to finish tied for ninth with Fruita’s Jaydin Berta.
“I’m really encouraged by where Kyle’s at and how he’s hitting the ball. It was a really good sign,” Rawles said.
The Demons will be back on the course Friday. After stopping in Montrose for a quick nine holes at The Bridges Golf and Country Club, the site of this year’s regional tournament, the Demons will head to the Delta Invitational at Devil’s Thumb Golf Club on Friday morning.
kschneider@durangoherald.com
