The Durango High School girls golf team, after dodging snowstorm after snowstorm, finally opened the spring season Tuesday at the Warrior Invitational at Tiara Rado Golf Course in Grand Junction.
A scheduled tournament Monday at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction was snowed out.
Weather on Tuesday improved with a high of a brisk 48 degrees with sunny skies and a slight breeze at the challenging municipal desert course at Tiara Rado, located at the base of the Colorado National Monument, west of Grand Junction.
Durango junior Myranda Crawford had one of the highlights for the DHS girls golf team. She shot a personal low round of 113, easily surpassing her previous best of 128.
Senior Sarah Gaughan posted the second lowest round of her career with a 98, despite four penalty strokes.
Junior Lauren Walsh also posted her second lowest round ever. She shot a 109 at Tiara Rado.
The three combined for the DHS team total of 320.
Chelsea McSparren, a DHS sophomore, posted a 148 in her first high school golf tournament.
"I think the (DHS golfers) did an outstanding job, given the weather and the weather we've had to train with," said DHS girls golf head coach Kirk Rawles.
Rawles, the longtime head coach and director of the Durango Freestyle Ski Team, took over as the DHS girls golf coach this spring. He's also an avid golfer and regular player in regional tournaments.
"This was also their first chance to walk a full 18 holes," Rawles said of the inexperienced DHS golfers, who are still adjusting to prep golf competition.
"They have all worked hard and are looking to improve each time they tee it up."
He said he's been impressed by the work ethic and the dedication of the young DHS golfers.
Loren Forney of Grand Junction won medalist honors at Tiara Rado on Tuesday. She shot a 1-under 70 to win by 15 strokes.
Forney, a junior, moved to Grand Junction from Rifle last year. She has won all three tournaments she's entered this spring.
Teams participated from Grand Junction, Gunnison, Cedaredge, Delta, Fruita Monument, Palisade, Moffat County and Durango.
Grand Junction Central won the team title with 243 strokes.
Grand Junction was second at 277.
The DHS girls golf team will play at the Kirtland Invitational in New Mexico at 9 a.m. Monday. Then on April 8-9, the Durango girls golfers will play in a two-day event at Cedaredge and Delta.
heraldsports@durangoherald.com
Reader Comments