Competing in its first two tournaments of the season, the Montezuma Cortez High School golf team missed opportunities that kept the Panthers from registering a top finish. Coaches and players resolved to return home and improve.
Panthers finish fourth in opener
Kicking off their season on Aug. 11 at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction, the Panthers recorded several solid rounds on their way to a fourth-place finish.
Leading the Panthers was senior Hayden Plewe, who, coming off an all-conference season as a junior, fired a score of 71 to tie for second in the tournament.
Tying for second on the team, seniors Tristan Shelby and Ryan Aiken fired scores of 80. Rounding out the Panthers scorers were freshman Cristoffer Rudosky, who shot and 81, and senior Levi Gross, who carded a round of 84.
One of 14 teams competing in the field, the Panthers finished with a combined score of 231. Grand Junction High School finished first in the tournament with a score of 211.
“It wasn’t a bad start,” Panthers head coach Micah Rudosky said of the tournament. “The potential is there.”
Panthers just short in second tourney
Looking to improve on their season-opening performance, the Panthers traveled to Redlands Mesa Golf Club on Aug. 12 to compete in the Wildcat Invitational.
Matching up against many teams in their conference, the Panthers finished third overall. Steamboat Springs finished second and Fruita Monument finished first.
Again leading the Panthers, Plewe registered a score of 75. According to Rudosky, however, the round could have been even better.
“(Plewe) played fine, but he hit a few shots offline and let a couple get away,” said Rudosky. “He’s going to be there every week though. I expect him to fire some rounds in the 60s at some point this year.”
Complementing Plewe, Cristoffer Rudosky registered a score of 79, Aiken scored an 81, Shelby scored an 89 and Gross carded a 91.
“We’ve got to improve on our short game,” said Rudosky, when asked to sum up tournament. “We just need the experience of getting out there and playing a few more events.”
Next up for the Panthers will be a tournament at Conquistador Golf Course in Cortez, which will take place on Aug. 20.