Steamboat Pilot & Today

After two days of chasing hometown favorite Erik Lundberg in Montrose, Paul Berry is looking forward to getting his chance to play at home next week.

"It was a little frustrating," Berry said. "I was hitting the ball better than I've ever hit it before, but my putts just weren't falling."

Berry's second-place effort led the Sailors to a fourth-place team finish in the tournament. Durango finished first, Montrose was second, and Fruita Monument was third.

Durango finished with a team score of 440, seven strokes ahead of Montrose in the standings.

After leading the first round, Fruita Monument fell off the pace and finished with a score of 448. Steamboat finished in fourth at 458.

Lundberg led the field with a first-round score of 69 at Cobble Creek. He finished the second day at the Montrose Golf Club with a score of 70.

Berry finished the first round tied with Dana Johnson at 70. He shot a round of 73 at Montrose to secure second place.

"I'm sure that Paul was disappointed. He just didn't get enough putts to fall," Sailors coach Steve Dodson said. "I think he will be looking forward to getting another shot at Lundberg and winning in Steamboat."

Dodson thought his players continued to improve and grow in Montrose.

The team played fairly well in the opening round at Cobble Creek, and the Steamboat players maintained their focus at Montrose Golf Club despite some rough conditions caused by a grass fungus that has forced the course to use five temporary greens.

Berry's 69 led the team at Cobble Creek. Teammate Tucker Campbell finished at 79, Jake Dombrowski shot an 82, and Michael Weston finished at 84. Cody Fritz struggled a bit, finishing at 94.

Berry also led the team on the second day with a 73. Campbell finished at 76, Weston shot a 78, and Cody Fritz shot an 82. Dombrowski finished with an 84.

''This is a very young team," Dodson said. "But we've been consistent this year and are always in the top three or four."

Dodson said he doesn't want the team to become complacent or to be happy with a third- or fourth-place finish.

However, he is happy with the progress the team has made so far this season and expects them to continue to make strides to improve in the future.

The team's next tournament is Wednesday in Steamboat. The Sailors will travel to Craig for another tournament Sept. 8 before heading into the homestretch of the season with tournaments in Carbondale, Aspen and Rangely before the regional tournament.