For 16 of the 18 holes, Durango High School’s Reiley Waldo was playing pretty much stroke for stroke with playing partner and eventual medalist Elly Waters of Rifle.
Waldo ended up taking a 9 on one par-4 and a 7 on another en route to a 14-over-par 85 in the Grand Junction Invitational girls golf tournament Monday at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction. DHS brought only two girls, not enough to compete for honors, but Waldo had the third-best individual score Monday. Waters was medalist with a 74; Eagle Valley won the team title.
Lauren Biery added a 115 in only the second time she’s walked 18 holes and played in a tournament, DHS head coach Kirk Rawles said.
“We have a pretty young team. We have a lot of girls who don’t have a lot of experience. We’re trying to get them up to speed as we get going,” Rawles said of having just the two players make the trip for Monday’s tourney. “Most of the girls don’t have enough experience to play in a varsity golf tournament. Many haven’t walked 18 holes.”
Waldo isn’t one of those players. The senior is looking to compete in the state tournament for the third consecutive year, and her effort Monday had Rawles confident that that’s a possibility.
“She played real well,” Rawles said. “She played with the girl who won, and outside of two holes, played right along with her.
“Lauren’s score of 115 is great for her in that she doesn’t have a lot of experience. She had a couple pars. It’s a confidence-builder for her. And I think Reiley’s round was a great indicator for her, too. I’m really happy with how the two of them played.”
DHS is back in Grand Junction on Monday and Tuesday for the Southwest League Championship.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
