CORTEZ – With all of their hard work this season, it was only a matter of time before the Panthers broke through with score improvements that reflected their growth. Nothing like some home cooking to help that confidence to blossom.
M-CHS posted their best round of the season, both as a team and across the board individually, to earn the Panthers a score of 262 and runner-up status in their home invitational at Conquistador GC on April 28. Senior Amita Crowley won her final home tournament, while classmate Afton Unrein added a top-four showing to help the cause.
Dolores took 11th as a team as their seniors Julianne Vega and Jadyn Gorsuch played a competitive round on their home course for the last time, as well.
Crowley cruised through the opening six holes, notching a birdie on the par-four fifth to place herself atop the leaderboard – a position she would never relinquish. The three-time state qualifier closed the front nine with a 37, then continued to manage the course with firm control, dropping in seven pars on the incoming nine to post a round of 75 and a three-shot victory.
Unrein likewise found pars plentiful, making eight on the day to close out round splits of 43 and 41 to take home her best round of the season (84) to finish fourth overall.
Junior Dannika Goodall also enjoyed her best round of the season, posting a 103 courtesy of even sides of 52 and 51, scoring nothing higher than a seven on her card while marking down eight bogeys.
“Amita and Afton played with confidence and complete focus,” said second-year M-CHS head coach Jarrett Watkins, “and Dannika put together a great round, as well.”
Junior Tinley Philpott and freshman Mayci Garver each scored a 114, with Philpott closing with a 54 on the back nine thanks to five straight bogeys. Garver parred the first hole and split her round evenly between two 57s.
Sophomore Tinsley Aspromonte finished with a round of 117, senior Keira Jago scored two strokes back, while junior Leah Ware and freshman Aubriana Trujillo each tallied a 129.
“All of our girls exceeded expectations, and our younger players keep improving drastically,” added Watkins. “We’re looking forward to them stepping up next year to fill the gap left by our graduating seniors.”
For the Bears, Vega paced the way as she has all season for the black-and-red, notching a 124 with a couple bogeys on the card to highlight her round on her way to a 49th place individual finish. Gorsuch fired a 130 and finished four places behind her classmate, while junior Piper Green earned a 137.
Durango won the invitational by scoring a 251 team score, while the Panthers bested the rest of the Southwestern League representation, including Fruita-Monument (3rd), Montrose (4th), Palisade (6th), Grand Junction (8th), and GJ Central (9th).
The strong scores for the Panthers improved their standing in the CHSAA scoring average for state qualification. Both Crowley and Unrein sit within the top 25 in the 2A rankings, with the top 84 individuals qualifying for the state tournament at Lone Tree Country Club on May 18-19.
