High school golfers sneak a peak at regional course
The Aspen Times
High school golfers tested the regional championship course Wednesday at Gypsum Creek.
The prep teams gathered for the Eagle Valley Invite on the course that will host the regionals at the end of the season.
Basalt finished second with Aspen third among the Class 3A schools participating.
Vail Mountain won the event with a composite score of 242. Basalt was three back at 245.
Aspen finished at 247.
Two Basalt players tied for medalist honors in the 3A division. Tristan Rohrbaugh and Peter Steckler each shot 78 on the regional course.
“We did play pretty well,” Basalt head coach Al Rakowski said.
He said that play ran late Wednesday, so the two Longhorns will have a playoff today to determine the single medalist from the tournament.
The Longhorns are scheduled to play at the Rifle Invite at Rifle Creek.
“We’ll have a playoff to determine the winner,” Rakowski said. They’ll use the round at Rifle Creek as the tiebreaker.
Steckler is from Glenwood Springs. He plays golf at Basalt because the Demons don’t field a boys golf team.
Nick Calabro shot an 89 to round out the scoring for the Longhorns.
His score came in spite of two troublesome holes, Rakowski said. Outside of those two big numbers, Calabro played solid golf, the coach said.
“It’s a tough course, too,” Rakowski said of the 6,468-yard layout. “You’ve got to think your way around the course.”
“We did not perform well; we just did not play well,” Aspen head coach Mary Woulfe said. “I think we’ve got some guys who are a little on the tired side.”
The Aspen golfers played their third prep tournament in three days after two days of the Conviser tournament at the Aspen Golf Club on Saturday and Sunday.
AHS senior Clayton Crawford was even par heading into the last three holes. He ultimately finished with a 79 good for third place individually in 3A.
Will Hazen also had a tough finish for the Skiers. He shot 86.
“Patrick Martin was our man of the match,” Woulfe said. “He shot an 82, which is a good round for him up there.”
Woulfe said the Skiers maintained a positive attitude in spite of tough closing holes Wednesday.
A few of the Skiers will play in the Rifle Invite today at Rifle Creek while the rest of the team will take a break.
Aspen will play in Grand Junction at Bookcliff Country Club on Monday.
The Skiers are scheduled to compete at the Redlands Mesa course in Grand Junction on Tuesday.
Aspen is scheduled to host its annual tournament on Monday, Sept. 9. The following day, the prep players will tee off at River Valley Ranch in Carbondale.
