Durango High School girls golfer Madalen Meier will have plenty of momentum heading into the summer offseason, and more importantly, for Fort Lewis College, after she earned state recognition last week for her stellar season.
Meier was named to the Colorado High School Activities Association’s Class 4A all-state second team last Wednesday. Meier wrapped up her high school career in less-than-ideal conditions when she took 18th at the Girls State Golf Championships, which were held at Pelican Lakes Golf Club in Windsor.
Meier, who is committed to playing at Fort Lewis in the fall, shot an 18-over-par 90 in the lone round of the state golf tournament, after the second round was canceled due to weather. The Demons still finished third overall and Meier paced the team, where they shot a 73-over 289 as a team. It was the highest finish in team history.
At the lone round of state, she shot an 8-over 44 on the front nine after she recorded four bogeys and saved par three times and had two double-bogeys. On the back nine, Meier shot 10-over and recorded two pars, four bogeys and three double-bogeys. Durango head coach Kirk Rawles said that by playing bogey-golf, she kept herself in contention for a top-10 finish. Rawles said that if the second round would have played out, Meier was right in earshot of the front group.
Her round at state was just scratching the surface of her performances this season. During her offseason in the winter, she spent 12-15 hours per week hitting golf balls, and would work out at Dalton Ranch Golf Club’s gym. It benefited, as she moved up 21 spots from her time at state as a junior when she took 39th, and it has been a steady build for Meier to earn all-state recognition.
Her sophomore season, she shot rounds between 115 and 120, but it all changed her junior year, when she won the Hillcrest Golf Club Junior Championship. After a top-50 finish at state last year, Meier knew that her senior season could be her best yet and she was determined to make it come true.
She kicked off her final season of high school golf in style, as she helped her team win the opening tournament of the year in Montrose when she turned in a 17-over 89 at Black Canyon Golf Course, and steadily built upon her opening score of the season. She also shot a 17-over at Adobe Creek National Golf Course in Fruita, and a 21-over 93 at Conquistador Golf Course in Cortez. Her season-best came at a demanding Bookcliff Country Club, when she shot an 10-over 81 and helped DHS win its second tournament in as many weeks. She finished her season scoring average in the low 80s.
Meier will look to continue to improve this summer and beyond, including the fall, when she, and fellow DHS teammate and Animas High School senior Faith Mewmaw, both will play for first-year FLC head coach Jim Foltz, who signed both in his first few weeks as then-interim head coach.
Next season, Durango will be returning much of its roster that helped it have a top-three finish, including Lilly Tichi and Quinn Griswold.
bploen@durangoherald.com
