Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Seven strokes separated Steamboat Springs junior golfer Eric Scholl from the field in Wednesday's Cowboy Shootout at the Steamboat Golf Club.

That was more than enough as the 18-year-old golfer who will attend college in Durango this fall cruised to the win in the seventh annual Cowboy Shootout. A total of 38 golfers (36 boys, 2 girls) took part in the tournament at the golf club west of Steamboat Springs.

Scholl easily won the older boys division (16-18) with an 18-hole round of 71. It was the best score recorded in the tournament. D.J. Hidalgo followed him in that age group with an 82 and Ian Ramsay finished third after firing a score of 85 for 18 holes.

"It was another great tournament," longtime organizer Bill Nickey said. "We went back to the 18-hole format for the older kids and they really seemed to like it."

Last year, the Shootout was limited to just nine holes. Nickey said many of the older local players elected to skip the tournament. He expanded the two older divisions this year and saw many of the top local players return to the course.

Hunter Hidalgo won the 14- and 15-year-old division with a score of 77. It was the second best score of the day. Ryan Brees shot an 81 to take second in the group, and Paul Berry, who finished second in Tuesday's Haywhacker Tournament, placed third in his division with a score of 82.

Millissia Johnston won the girls division with a score of 68 on nine holes. Jordin Wommack finished second in the division with a round of 70.

Tucker Campbell took top honors in the 12-and-under division with a score of 46 on nine holes.

Billy Taylor was second at 48 and Dylan Roberts came in third at 53.

Ben Vonthaden, who cleaned up with a nine-hole round of 47, dominated the 11-and-under class. Nelson Kane was second at 64 and Michael Ricker was third with a score of 65.

The final age division, the 9-and-under group, played just five holes.

Murphy Roberts and Skyler Martin had to do a putting green tiebreaker to determine the winner after both golfers finished with a score of 34. Roberts prevailed. Ben Siegel finished in third with a round of 36.