The Durango High School girls golf team won its home tournament Monday at the Hillcrest Golf Club, then turned around and won Montezuma-Cortez’s tournament at the Conquistador Golf Course on Tuesday.
“The did awesome,” said DHS head coach Kirk Rawles. “They played great.”
Durango juniors Natasha Walcott and Zayda Mestas reached the podium at both tournaments with top-three finishes to lead DHS.
“I’m pretty happy with it,” Walcott. “Good golf always feels good.”
They both shot an 83 at Hillcrest to tie for second, finishing just one shot behind the winner, Kylie Manus of Kirtland Central.
With some work being done at Hillcrest, the golfers played the same nine holes twice, which helped them a little.
“It was pretty cool,” Walcott said. “In the second round, you could learn from your mistakes in the first round.” Walcott did exactly that, shooting a 45 on the front nine and then slashing seven strokes off her score in the back nine.
Freshmen Ellie White and Avery Rike both shot a 98 to tie for seventh. Junior Eliza Bosmans shot a 101 to place 10th. Claire Paul shot a 107, Raimee Brant shot a 110, Shae Madrid shot a 111 and Rabun Shropshire shot a 114.
DHS won their home tournament’s team title with a 264, followed by Kirtland Central (277), Montezuma-Cortez (295), Monte Vista, Gunnison and Alamosa.
Chesnie Patrick shot an 86 to place fifth and lead M-CHS. Ashlyn Hall shot 102, and Saraih Robinson shot a 107 for the Panthers.
At Cortez’s tournament, Walcott shot a personal best 80 to take second. Mestas shot an 83 to finish third while three of their teammates also finished in the top 10.
“I felt pretty good,” Walcott said about her Tuesday round. “My short game showed up at the last part. I was sinking some putts for par and sinking some putts for birdie.”
Walcott sunk two birdies on the day.
“Natasha and Zayda are taking it to the next level and finding that consistency,” Rawles said.
Three other Demons also shot in the 80s at Conquistador. Senior Summer Bonnar shot an 87 to place fifth. Madrid and White both shot an 88, tying for sixth.
“Today was the first time we’ve had that many girls shoot in the 80s,” Rawles said.
Paul shot a 94, Bosmans shot a 95 and Rike shot a 100 and Brant shot a 109 for DHS.
The home team also had it best round of the year, besting its 3A competition and placing third in the team race with a season-low 288. “I’m proud of all of them,” said MCHS coach Travis Wright. “This is the first time we’ve ever gotten three scores under 100.”
Patrick led M-CHS with a 91, beginning her day strong with a birdie. “That felt amazing,” she said. “It got me in the mindset that I will play good today.”
Robinson shot a personal best 98. “It’s super-exciting,” she said, noting that it was also one of the first times she played a full 18 holes.
Hall, meanwhile, rounded out M-CHS’ team score with a 99. Her highlight, she said, was sinking a putt for par on the seventh hole with her family watching.
In the team race, DHS shot a 250 to take first. Piedra Vista, led by individual champion Annie Yost (76), placed second with a 255, followed by Kirtland Central (273), Gunnison (295), Alamosa (306), Monte Vista (363) and Navajo Prep (398).
“I’m really proud of the team,” Walcott said. “I felt everybody played good yesterday and today. We have good practice sessions, the coaches dissect our game so we know what we need to work on and we put the time in.”
