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Steamboat Springs — The words of golf coach Scott Berry sounded good as they rang in the ears of Steamboat Springs High School golf team members, who were preparing for today's regional tournament in Aspen.

"Stay loose," the coach urged his players. "That is going to be the key to being successful at the regional."

The team was scheduled to leave during the weekend, play a practice round Monday and then open play in the regional at the Aspen Golf Club this morning. At stake was a seventh-straight trip to the 4A golf championships.

"I want to make it to state, but I'm trying not to think about it," said Scott Ptach, one of five players who were making the trip. "If I think about it too much, it's just going to screw me up."

The Sailors took four members of the team, Ptach, Alan Capistron, Ben Von Thaden and Kaelen Gunderson, to Aspen. Jace Hvambsal, who was a huge part of the team this season, elected not to make the trip.

"Kaelen injured himself, so we are not sure how he is going to be swinging the club, and Jace had been playing really well this season and deserved a chance," said Steve Dodson, who coaches the team along with Berry. "This is always a difficult part of the season. We've played with five all year, but we can only have four in the regional."

Dodson planned to use Monday's practice round to decide whether Gunderson and Hvambsal would play in this year's regional. But Hvambsal decided not to make the trip because he was worried about missing school.

So instead of trimming the roster, the players used the round as a way to fine-tune their game as the team looks forward to another state tournament bid.

"We want to go down and clean some things up and get a better feel for the course," Dodson said.

Like Ptach, the other members of Steamboat's golf team were trying not to look ahead. To qualify as a team, the Sailors must win the tournament. Individuals also can qualify if they are in the top percentage of the field. If Steamboat, or any other team, qualifies three individuals, they still can compete for a state title as a team.

"Aspen's a weird golf course," Ptach said. "It has small fairways, and there are not a lot of gimmies. The good news is that we are going down early, and we will get a couple of practice rounds in before we have to play."

Capistron was focused on keeping things simple while hitting balls off the driving range at the Catamount Ranch & Club on Friday afternoon.

"I want to treat this like any other tournament," he said. "I'm trying not to think about what it means."

Capistron has been working hard for more than a year to improve his game. Last year, he was on the Sailors development squad but was able to move to varsity this season and has earned a spot as part of the team that will play today.

"I worked hard at the Steamboat Golf Club this summer, and it's paid off," the sophomore said. "I really want to make it to state, but I also know that I've got a couple of more years."

Von Thaden also is excited about the chance to make it to state, and he's confident after shooting a 78 in Aspen earlier this year.

"I think everybody is feeling pretty solid right now," Von Thaden said. "All we need to do is stick to what we've been working on, and I think we will make it to state."

Dodson and Berry agree, but they also know that with only one qualifier coming out of the region, anything can happen.

"There is no question that this is going to be harder than it has been in the past," Dodson said. "But I have faith in these kids, and I know they have what it takes to get back to state."

-To reach John F. Russell call 871-4209 or e-mail jrussell@steamboatpilot.com