The Durango High School boys golf team welcomed one of Colorado’s top teams, and 13 others, to Hillcrest Golf Club on Wednesday and nearly beat them all.
Grand Junction, iWanamaker’s midseason No. 1 ranked team in Class 4A, ended up winning the Durango Hillcrest Invitational with a team score of 218, but Durango kept it close and finished second with 227.
“We were in it for a long time going up against Grand Junction,” Durango coach Kirk Rawles said. “We got pretty close, but gave up a few strokes at the end.”
Kirtland Central (229), No. 8 3A Montezuma-Cortez (238), Pagosa Springs (241), Central Grand Junction (244) Gunnison (250) and three more DHS squads rounded out the top-10.
Ben Ogden carded a 75 to tie for fifth and lead the Demons. Drew Jepson, Owen Muraro and Wyatt Lafferty all shot 76s on their home course, tying for seventh.
All three of Grand Junction’s scoring players, meanwhile, finished in the top-five, led by individual champion Jack Kaul (69). Hunter Simmons (74) and Maddox Lovato (75) finished third and fifth for GJHS.
Jepson was even-par heading into the 16th hole, but had some trouble late.
“Drew played really solid, but ran into some bad luck on 16,” Rawles said. “He lost his ball and that cost him a couple of strokes.”
Zach Griswold (79) and Eli Holden (81) also played for Durango’s varsity.
The Demons were able to get 25 players into their home tournament and they capitalized on their opportunity to compete.
Bailey Burke and Henry Howe both shot 80 while Nolan Pace (82), Roman Thompson (83), Rosario Rypkema (84), Austin Romero (87), Alex Elias (87) and Wynn Daniels (87) also broke 90 for DHS.
“Across the board, when you have 10 guys play that well at home, it was really solid for our whole team,” Rawles said. “The next-level (players) trying to get on varsity did great.”
Durango’s top finishers from the tournament also earned one of the team’s 13 spots for Cortez’s tournament on Thursday.
Gavin Frost and Vince Lopez both finished at 76 to lead Cortez on Wednesday, while Airoughn Morris rounded out the Panthers’ team score with an 86.
A handful of girls golfers from New Mexico also competed, since they play both in the fall and spring. Annie Yost won the individual crown to lead Piedra Vista to the team title.
Durango’s performance, however, has the team optimistic about the rest of the season.
“It was a big boost to see we can hang with Grand Junction,” Rawles said, noting the DHS will play both GJHS and 4A No. 4 Montrose at the regional championships. “I like where we’re at. (The players) all know there are a few shots out there and if we play smarter, we can get closer.”
