Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — The Steamboat Springs boys' golf team continued their tour of Colorado's western courses with two recent tournaments in Cortez, Durango and Delta.

After opening the season in Grand Junction, the Sailors attempted to lower their individual and team scores from the preceding weeks.

In the Aug. 15 18-hole invitational hosted by Montezuma-Cortez High School at the Conquistador Golf Course, Cody Sherrill fired a 78 to once again lead all Steamboat golfers. Ryan Brees shot an 83 and both Ryan Marsden and DJ Hidalgo came to the clubhouse with a 92. Tucker Smalley shot a 96.

The top three scores counted toward Steamboat's final team score of 253, which put them in 14th place overall.

Cortez, the host school, finished first with a team score of 231.

In the Demon Invitational hosted by Durango High School on Aug. 16, the Sailors shot an identical 253 at the Hillcrest Golf Course.

Sherrill paced the Sailors yet again with an 81, but Brees' 83 was close behind. Hidalgo fired an 89 to round out the three counting scores for Steamboat. Smalley shot a 91, and Marsden shot a 109.

Eric Winder of Grand Junction won the invitational with a 72, which was one over on the Par 71 Durango course. Once again the host school came in first overall as Durango fired a 225, finishing eight strokes ahead of Lewis Palmer.

Steamboat played without top golfer Jeff Franks for the fourth straight meet. The senior, however, returned in grand fashion for the Delta Invitational in Delta Aug. 20.

Devil's Thumb Golf Course was kind to Steamboat's traveling five of Franks, Sherrill, Hunter Hidalgo, Brees and Eric Vanderbloemen. All five shot 90 or better, including Franks, who fired a three-under, 69 in his first high school tournament of the season.

The score was good enough for a second-place finish individually, one shot behind the winner, Shea Sena of Montezuma-Cortez.

As a team, Steamboat finished in an impressive second overall with a score of 228, compliments of Franks' 69, Sherrill's 78 and Hidalgo's 81. Rifle came in first with a 227.

Sailors Brees and Vanderbloemen shot an 85 and 90, respectively.

To reach Melinda Mawdsley call 871-4208

or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com