Known for its difficult tee shots and blazingly fast greens, Hillcrest Golf Club in Durango, has a way of intimidating even the most seasoned golfers.
Thus, when the Dolores High School girls team made up of first-year golfers took to Hillcrest’s links to compete against Durango High School’s varsity and junior varsity teams on April 11, it was somewhat surprising that the team played so well.
“My team is amazing,” Dolores head coach Monica Plewe said. “They have played two of the hardest courses that they’ll see in our area, and they are striking the ball very well. Hillcrest’s greens are just tough.”
Leading the way for the Dolores team was sophomore Kailey Case, who shot a team-best score of 125 in her second tournament ever. The score, which was the lowest of Case’s short career, was especially impressive in light of the fact that she took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT) prior to the tournament and did not have time to warm up as a result.
Also playing well for Dolores were freshman Kalli Pardington, who shot a 131, freshman LaBrea Matteston, who shot a 132, and sophomore Tawnee Benavidez, who shot a 136, in what was her first tournament ever.
“It was a good tournament,” Plewe said. “The Durango team was fantastic, and we were so lucky to have had nice weather. Usually in girls golf, we have lightening delays and 40 mile per hour winds.”
Now two tournaments into their season, the Dolores team will next compete in a tournament at the Aztec Municipal Golf Course on April 17. The Lady Bears home tournament will take place at Conquistador Golf Course on April 20.