A more challenging course made play a bit tougher for the Durango High School boys golf team Tuesday than it did Monday.
Scores across the board, with the exception of senior Eric Walker, were higher Tuesday at Redlands Mesa Golf Course in Grand Junction after several players went low Monday at the season-opening tournament at Bookcliff Country Club.
Walker managed to better his round by three strokes and four relative to par with an 8-over 80 on a perfect weather day at the 7,007-yard, par-72 course.
“Eric played really steady and putted better than (Monday),” DHS head coach Kirk Rawles said in a phone interview with The Durango Herald. “An 80 is a really good round on that course.”
Rawles said Redlands Mesa features more elevation changes, length and more multi-tier greens than the par-71 Bookcliff course.
Junior Kobe Szura shot an 88, senior Cory Gillespie shot 92, junior Lucas Robbins a 96 and junior Robby Grogan an even 100.
Durango’s team score of 260 was good for sixth in the 12-team tournament. Steamboat Springs was led by Will Firestone’s 2-over 74 to take the team title.
One day after being the medalist at Bookcliff with an impressive 64, Fruita Monument’s Tory Dangler fired a 68. But he was outdone by one stroke, as Grand Junction’s Trevor Olkowski won with a 5-under 67. Montrose’s Glen Mihavitz was third with a 72.
DHS will regroup for two tournaments next week beginning Wednesday at Devils Thumb Golf Club in Delta before a Thursday trip to Pagosa Springs. Rawles plans on bringing 10 boys to compete with a full varsity and junior varsity roster.
“I’ve got to see everyone in action this week and have seen what their tendencies are. We can take that home and work on it and ingrain some stuff and make minor changes across the board,” Rawles said.
The coach also hopes the return of seniors Cameron Barnhardt and Cy Spicer will help elevate the team’s play next week.
“I think they will give us another good shot in the arm,” Rawles said.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
