Low scores throughout the lineup, both varsity and junior varsity. A handful of top-four team finishes.
The Durango High School boys golf team is playing some of its best golf of the season at the right time, a roll the Demons will try to continue at the Durango Invitational/Southwestern League Championships on Monday at Hillcrest and Tuesday at Dalton Ranch.
The play of late up and down the lineup has made the decision on who plays varsity and who plays junior varsity a challenging one for head coach Kirk Rawles, with the junior varsity having racked up four consecutive victories and the varsity accruing tremendous results of its own.
The Demons recently finished second at Bridges and fourth at Black Canyon in Montrose, tied for first at Cobble Creek in Basalt and were fourth at Devil’s Thumb in Delta.
Cameron Barnhardt fired a 76 for the JV his last time out at the Bridges, and Trevor Bogus and Bo Ward followed up with matching 78s. Cory Gillespie shot a 74 and Cy Spicer a 76 at Black Canyon. And at Cobble Creek, Ward set a DHS season-low with a 72.
“I haven’t been very good with picks the last few times,” Rawles said with a chuckle. “I’ll pick a kid or put a kid on JV, and he goes out and shoots a 76. That’s happened twice to us at the last two tournaments. But it’s great. All those athletes, we’re charting all the scores for everybody, and so these last two events will factor into who we take to regionals the following week.”
For Monday’s play, which begins at 10 a.m., the DHS varsity lineup will contain Gillespie, Ward, Bogus, Barnhardt and Spicer. With the way the full lineup’s been playing, that card is subject to change for Tuesday’s round.
“You may not be having your best day, but you have to keep your head in it to finish off the round because it could affect your chance of going to regionals or not,” Rawles said. “So it can help us out as a team for all those guys to keep their head in the game and know they still need to perform.”
Regardless, Durango will be up against stiff competition. The Demons will welcome 11 other teams to town: Grand Junction, Grand Junction Central, Montrose, Montezuma-Cortez, Telluride, Pagosa Springs, Farmington, Piedra Vista, Kirtland Central and Aztec.
And it’s the second year of the two-year rotation of the Durango Invitational doubling as the SWL Championships. A medalist and team champion will be crowned each day as well as overall individual and team champions for the lowest two-day combined totals.
Rawles said he thinks his squad’s depth could prove to be the difference on the Demons’ home courses.
“I think we have a pretty talented group compared to the other schools,” the DHS head coach said. “We have some depth with that group.
“I’m very optimistic about our team and where we’re at and the fact that we’re a fairly young team as well.”
rowens@durangoherald.com
