Home

The Steamboat Springs High School golf team returned from a two-day excursion to Grand Junction with a better idea of what its competition will look like the rest of the season.

Maybe more importantly, the Sailors returned knowing that when regionals roll around in September, they should be right in the thick of things.

"Our goals are still pretty much the same," junior Alan Capistron said. "Getting first place at every tournament is the goal."

Playing Bookcliff Country Club on Monday, Steamboat finished fourth - second among Class 4A teams - with a team score of 234. Durango was first with a 226. Steamboat's main competition in the region, Montrose, shot a 227.

Senior Scott Ptach paced the Sailors with a 76. Kaelen Gunderson and Capistron each shot 78. Skyler Martin shot 92, and Patrick Weston shot 95.

On Tuesday, Steamboat bettered its score at Tiara Rado Golf Course to finish second. Steamboat shot a team score of 223, three shots off the eventual winner, Aspen. Gunderson and Capistron led with 75s. Ptach fired a 76, Weston shot 89, and Martin shot a 91.

"We saw all of our competition," Steamboat coach Steve Dodson said. "It was a good test."

It certainly gave the Sailors a judge of where they stand in the region. Having only one organized team practice in the past two weeks, Dodson said the Grand Junction swing helped give Steamboat some perspective on other top teams in the state.

As it stands now, Montrose appears like the team to beat.

"They're good," said Capistron, whose 75 on Tuesday was a career-best in a high school tournament. "They have five guys who shoot in the 70s. If we all have a good day, I think we can beat them."

Dodson said while the scores initially have been good, Steamboat has a lot of skills to work on.

Any time three players shoot in the 70s, a coach should be happy, Dodson said. However, the coach said he was a little disappointed in knowing each player could and should have dropped several strokes more.

"The scores are good, but the way we're getting there is kind of ugly. The scoring is kind of ugly," Dodson said. "Our execution isn't real clean, but we're turning in some good scores. I can't be too upset. I'm looking forward to the next six days of practice to clean up our act a little bit."

Steamboat next plays at 9 a.m. Aug. 27 at Eagle Valley.