The Durango High School girls golf team battled brutal conditions in addition to tough competition Tuesday and Wednesday in Montrose.

Despite a 20-mph wind Tuesday at the Cobble Creek Golf Club and a 32-degree temperature when the girls teed off Wednesday at the Black Canyon Golf Course, the Demons still scored first- and second-place team finishes.

DHS beat Montrose by five shots Tuesday, then finished three strokes behind MHS on Wednesday.

“It was a really good outing for us,” said DHS head coach Kirk Rawles. “I’m excited they played as well as they did in just some tough conditions.”

On Tuesday, freshman Ellie White shot an 88 to lead Durango and finish third overall. White sank three birdies on the day and didn’t have a single penalty stroke despite water hazards on 16 of the 18 holes.

“I’m pretty impressed with her as a freshman,” Rawles said.

Zayda Mestas shot a 90, Natasha Walcott shot a 94, Summer Bonnar shot a 101, and Eliza Bosmans shot a 108 to help the Demons win the team title.

Rawles called the team win a “confidence boost,” noting that the regional championships will be held on the same course in May.

“It was good for us to see that course and its different nuances,” Rawles said. “It’s pretty flat, and most holes are pretty wide-open, but there’s water on 16 holes so you have to be cognizant of that.”

The golfers had another good day Wednesday at Black Canyon.

Walcott led DHS, shooting an 88 to place third. The coach, however, said she had a chance to win the tournament and wondered if he actually got in her way.

“I probably should have left her alone,” Rawles said. “For her to break 90 on a really cold day and finish third was great.”

Mestas was DHS’ next finisher, shooting a 91.

“(Natasha) and Zayda played really well last year, and they’re picking up where they left off,” Rawles said.

White and Bonnar both shot a 92, helping them finish in the top seven of the tournament.

Bonnar was even higher in the standings, but finished her round with nine strokes on a par 4.

“She played really solid for 17 holes and then ran into a tough green,” Rawles said. “But it was really encouraging for four of our players to finish in the top seven.”

Bosmans shot a 110, struggling on one hole but doing well otherwise.

“I’m seeing a lot of positives in her game,” Rawles said. She had one blowup hole, shooting 12 on a par 4, but outside of that, she found some consistency.”

The golfers’ performances in the cold and wind, however, has the coach excited to see what they can do the rest of this season.

“I’m feeling really optimistic about this year, and I liked how all of our golfers played in tough conditions; to play 18 holes back to back in those conditions was impressive,” Rawles said. “I think they’re all in a good spot.”

DHS will next play at the Riverview Golf Course in Kirtland, New Mexico, in a tournament hosted by Aztec on Monday.