Drew Jepson said he wasn’t nervous at all for the Durango High School boys golf team’s season opener at the Conquistador Golf Club in Cortez on Tuesday.
The freshman, who attends Bayfield High School but plays for the Demons, said he plays golf at least five or six times each week, and he carried that experience over into the season.
Jepson was even after the front nine and then sunk a pair of birdies on the back nine to shoot a 75 in his first high school tournament and place third overall.
“I felt very concentrated and my swing felt great,” Jepson said. “The front nine was amazing and then I finished with a few birdies.”
Jepson birdied holes No. 14 and 16, with some great approaches.
“I stuck them close, like five feet,” he said.
He also said he liked how he was able to hit his driver on almost every hole at Conquistador.
“I think this course is super pretty,” Jepson said. “The greens were amazing and rolling great, and everything was super green.”
The Demons entered two teams in the tournament, and Jepson’s squad finished third with a 237.
Eli Holden shot a score of 80 to tie for seventh overall. Ben Ogden shot 82 to place 12th, while Carter Hansen and Ethan White tied for 20th with 89 apiece.
Durango’s other team shot a 241 to place fourth. Owen Muraro shot 79 to finish sixth, while Zach Griswold tied Holden for seventh at 80. Bailey Burke shot 82 to place 12th, while Roman Thompson and William Newcomer both shot 88 to tie for 16th.
Henry Howe (84), Wyatt Lafferty (84) and Wynn Daniels (85) also competed as extras for DHS.
“They did great,” Durango coach Kirk Rawles said. “They were basically all in the 80s which is pretty good with 13 (players competing). The goal was to get another score under everyone’s belt. I’m glad we have depth because these guys will be pushing each other all year.”
Rawles said he divided the teams based on results from the team’s qualifier last Wednesday. Based on the qualifier and the Cortez competition, Jepson, Muraro, Holden, Griswold and Ogden will represent DHS when the team travels to Grand Junction and Montrose next week.
“I’m just glad some of the guys who had rougher goes in qualifying righted the ship today,” Rawles said. “They played smart golf to do that.”
Montezuma-Cortez shot 231 to win the tournament on its home course.
Gavin Frost shot 72 to lead MCHS and finish second overall. Kaden Huff (77) and Vince Lopez (81) placed fifth and 11th, respectively, while Airoughn Morris shot an 85 to tie for 15th.
“Obviously Gavin shooting a personal best 73 in the tournament to lead the team was good,” Montezuma-Cortez coach Todd Plewe said. “I’m real proud of the boys for their effort, especially Gavin and Kaden leading the way. The team has good camaraderie, good leadership and it’s been fun seeing them rooting for each other.”
Monte Vista, led by individual champion Kaden Mellott’s 71, finished second with a 233.
Durango’s two squads finished third and fourth at 237 and 241, respectively. Montrose (258) placed fifth. Delta (264), Pagosa Springs (265), Telluride (301) and Alamosa (327) followed.
