With 40 golfers out for the Durango High School boys team this fall, the team doesn’t have to travel far to get in some good competition.
“We’ll internalize some of the competitions this year,” said head coach Kirk Rawles. “We have so many athletes, we can create our own competition.”
In addition to playing qualifier tournaments and scrambles, the team has been doing different skill challenges, including up-and-down competitions and contests for the longest, most accurate drive.
“Those keep everyone engaged and create games within the game,” Rawles said.
Anthony Flint, a two-time state qualifier, and Luke Carlson both return with some varsity experience for the Demons.
“It’s good to mentor the younger guys and help them deal with tournaments and the pressure,” Flint said. “I’m excited to be on the course with a bunch of new guys.”
In the past, Flint said he’s always done a lot of summer tournaments, but would then peak in the middle of the season instead of at regionals and state. This year, however, he’s getting a little later of a start, which he hopes will help him peak at the right time. He also has some new talent on the team to compete against.
“After putting in some time, hopefully I’ll get back to that No. 1 spot,” Flint said.
Freshman Owen Muraro ended up being the team’s No. 1 golfer at its first tournament in Montrose last week. He shot a career best round of 84.
“It’s been challenging,” Muraro said about adjusting to the high school level. “I feel like it’s made me a better player and it’s made me work harder.”
Part of his early success, Muraro said, was “playing the smart shot instead of going for the big shots,” noting that bad shots really add to a score.
Eli Holden, Nicholas Best and Leland Longan also competed in the first two tournaments for Durango.
Levi Tichi, who also qualified for state multiple times for DHS, moved to Florida before his senior season.
Other golfers, however, will have plenty of opportunities to prove they deserve a spot on Durango’s lineup. With the team hosting the junior varsity championships at the Hillcrest Golf Club at the end of the September, the golfers who don’t crack the varsity lineup will still get a big tournament at the end as well.
“That’s nice because if they don’t make varsity, they still have something on their calendars to shoot for,” Rawles said. The coach said they’ve never cut anyone from the team, but with so many players out this season, they adapted their training schedule to accommodate all the athletes, staggering the times they start practicing.
“We’re a competitive group looking to compete at the highest level we can,” Muraro said.
Durango will also host varsity tournaments at Hillcrest Sept. 13 and Dalton Ranch Sept. 14.
“I love this course,” Carlson said about Hillcrest. “It’s easy compared to others.” Carlson also achieved his goal earlier this fall of shooting an 80 at Hillcrest, so now he said he’s just focusing on one day at a time.
Carlson also said he likes Dalton Ranch and the Glacier Club. Depending on what type of course some of the big tournaments will be held at, Durango practices at those two course to prepare as well.
Muraro said he’s looking forward to the level of competition at tournaments this season, competing against other golfers and playing new courses. He just started golfing last summer, but enjoys the challenges it presents.
“It’s an individual challenge so you can be competitive with yourself,” Muraro said.
