Battle Mountain golf tees off 2023 season, places second in Delta Panther Tournament
The Huskies have competed in six tournaments already this season
Chris Hoevel/Courtesy photo
It’s been a whirlwind start for the Battle Mountain boys golf team, which teed off the 2023 season on Aug. 1 with 46 athletes arriving in EagleVail for tryouts.
“Coaches were put in position of making cuts for the first time in our program in a long time,” stated head coach Chris Hoevel.
Hoevel and company narrowed the squad down to 30 players, split into four groups. The top five comprise the ‘tournament group,’ with the next seven making up the varsity; the remaining 18 split equally between junior varsity and development groups.
The Huskies opened their competition schedule at the Grand Junction Invite at Bookcliff Country Club Aug. 7. Owen Jackson and Walker Schmidt led the way, each shooting 89 to tie for 39th. Battle Mountain competed the next day at Rifle Creek before traveling to Cedaredge Golf Club on Aug. 10 for the Bruin Invitational. Keelan Losa (87) and Tieg Wachter (88) offered a pair of standout performances there, placing ninth and 10th, respectively, as the Huskies finished in fifth (272). Montezuma Cortez (253) took the win and Eagle Valley (263) tied for second in the 10-team tournament.
“During these first three tournaments, we were able to get 15 different players to compete to really get a full picture of who can play when the pressure is on,” Hoevel stated.
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The Huskies placed eighth out of 16 squads at the Skier Invitational in Aspen on Aug. 14 and 12th at the Longhorn Classic at River Valley Ranch on Aug. 15.
On Thursday, they traveled to the Delta Panther Tournament at Devils Thumb Golf Course for their sixth tournament of the season. The desert course presented unique challenges not often seen by the team.
“Fairways with not much rough immediately leading into desert wasteland meant players had to be surgical off the tee box,” the coach said. “Driver stayed in the bag for most players during the tournament, which, as a high school golfer is a big ego hit, but allows for great scoring.”
Battle Mountain (246) finished second as Aspen (240) took the overall team title. Eagle Valley (249) placed third behind Ben Vito (81) and Lawson Rumley (82).
Jackson (80) made three birdies and seven pars, leading the Huskies with a third-place overall finish. On one hole, Jackson launched an 80-yard approach shot that hit the cup, smacked the pin and fell to about one foot from the pin. Late in the round, he persevered through hip pain which hampered his swing.
“Owen showed his competitive spirit and toughness, however, by selecting clubs that he knew he could hit effectively,” Hoevel said of the senior, who ended the round with two-straight pars.
Sophomore Beau Suman was right on Jackson’s tail, finishing fifth with an 82. As a freshman, Suman was consistently the Huskies’ No. 3 scorer.
“Beau’s game featured incredible consistency from the tee box and a great touch with the wedge around the green,” Hoevel said of Suman, who finished the round with three birdies and six pars.
Schmidt (84) rounded out the scoring in 10th. Stuck just outside the team’s top-five throughout his junior season, Hoevel said the senior’s goal for the year has been to stay within the tournament group this year. The coach was also excited about the play of sophomore William Morrison, who shot an 85.
“As a freshman Will was mostly a junior varsity player,” Hoevel said. “He has worked hard this summer to get better and is now a top-five player.”
The Huskies continue the season on Aug. 28 at Tiara Rado Golf Course before coming home Sept. 5 for the Vail Mountain School Invite at the Vail Golf Course.
