Reiley Waldo wanted to have the best round of golf of her high school career on her home Hillcrest Golf Club on Monday. Waldo found her career-low round, but it would come one day later than expected and on a different course.
Conquistador Golf Course was the site of Waldo’s 9-over-par 81 on Tuesday during Dolores High School’s home meet. The round was good enough to put her in second place overall in the tournament behind Kiselya Plewe of Dolores. Plewe, who won the Durango Invitational on Monday, shot a 5-over 77 on Tuesday.
The solid round came one day after Waldo had to battle tough 30 mph winds and cold weather in Durango en route to a 96.
“It was definitely a lot nicer day,” said Waldo, daughter of Alissa Oliger and Kurt Waldo. “I was making real solid contact, and putting was a lot easier – the wind wasn’t affecting it as much as (Monday).”
Sparking Waldo’s round was a birdie on the very first hole, a par-5. During Monday’s round, Waldo put two shots in the water to finish the hole 4 over.
“That was a good way to set the tone,” Waldo said of Tuesday’s birdie.
She found another birdie on the 11th hole, a tricky par-4 with water bordering the right side of the fairway. After hitting a good drive, she put a wedge shot from 100 yards out to within six feet of the hole and made her birdie putt.
“I was keeping my mindset of relaxing and not stressing out,” she said. “I felt pretty comfortable both days, I just knew I would do better (Tuesday).”
DHS fielded a full varsity team for the first time this season. Sophomore Katrina Chandler shot a 107, and Lauren Biery made a varsity start with a 118.
The Demons finished fourth out of six teams with a 307.
Montrose won the tournament with a 266, Palisade was second at 283, and Dolores was third at 291. Durango finished ahead of Aztec’s 337 and Kirtland Central’s 340.
DHS will play at San Juan Country Club on Monday in Farmington. Regionals comes one week later at Cobble Creek Golf Course in Montrose.
Waldo aims to qualify for state at the regional tournament, as DHS head coach Kirk Rawles believes she is on track to get there.
“If she hits her average around 86, that will put her there,” he said. “She was a couple of putts or a chip and a putt away from getting to the magical 70s (Tuesday), and she’s really close to tasting that. It’s fun.”
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