Wind couldn’t rattle Reiley Waldo on Tuesday. It only helped her separate from the field.
Waldo worked the Redlands Mesa Golf Course in Grand Junction and fought off consistent 20 mph wind gusts to shoot an 85 on the par-72 course Tuesday to finish in second place in the two-day Southwestern League Championships.
“It was definitely one of my goals, to be in the SWL top five again like I was last year,” said the DHS senior. “To go from fifth last year to second this year is definitely exciting.”
Waldo finished behind SWL champion Brooke Brennecke of Montrose. Waldo scored an 89 Monday at the par-71 Tiara Rado Golf Course in Grand Junction. Her two-day total of 174 was good for second overall, and her 85 on Tuesday was the fifth-best round of the day.
“I walked most of the day with her both rounds, and she was solid considering the wind we had here,” DHS head coach Kirk Rawles said. ”It was tough to figure things out on two pretty tough and tight courses. After the first few holes, she gathered it in and hit the ball really well.”
Waldo, daughter of Allisa Oliger and Kurt Waldo, credited more precise driving Tuesday for a better score Tuesday.
Rawles said Waldo was dialed in with her irons, and improved putting Tuesday also helped her save a few key pars.
“A lot of it was putting,” Waldo said. “I was stroking it really good. I didn’t have any birdies, but a couple of the longer putts I made for par helped, and getting onto a couple of par-5s in two was a big help.”
Waldo called the wind “physically and psychologically draining,” but said it didn’t hamper her ability to plot around the course too much.
DHS had one other varsity golfer compete in the SWL Championship, Katrina Chandler. The sophomore shot 115 on Monday, and Tuesday she shot a 105, her career-low round.
Waldo now has shot in the 80s every round this season, and her big goal is to break 80 during the team’s home meet April 20 at Hillcrest Golf Club.
“Every year she has shaved her stroke average down. She has her sights set on breaking 80, and it’s a mutual goal for both of us,” Rawles said. “She’s built a good platform to shave strokes off when we play at home, but more importantly by the time we get to regionals.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
