Eagle Valley Devils golfers have a better day
MONTROSE, Colorado – That’s the thing about golf; something bad happens and you shake it off as fast as you can because your next opportunity for greatness or awfulness is just a few moments away.
Eagle Valley’s golf team had a little of that Wednesday and Thursday.
They traveled to Montrose for two tournaments in two days. On day one, the Bridges course smacked them around like a Limbaugh lover in liberal land, the same way it smacks everyone around. They weren’t being victimized.
The world turned, they teed it up Thursday at the Black Canyon golf course in Montrose and finished with a much better outlook on life.
“They got their bell rung a little bit and had a reality check,” said coach Tom Buzbee. “When that happens, they find out if they can come back the next day and play well.”
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Turns out they can.
Eagle Valley finished seventh Thursday in a field of 20-plus teams. Their team score was 248, 20 shots lower than Wednesday’s character-building outing.
“That’s more where we think we belong,” Buzbee said.
The Black Canyon golf course in Montrose is a traditional parkland golf course. Very user friendly, Buzbee said.
The Bridges is probably the hardest course they play all year, Buzbee said – tough course, hot day, high scores. Of the 18 holes, 16 have water, and all those water hazards were placed by some sadistic hater of golfers and other humans.
Buzbee breaks his 20-player team into four squads and they all take a shot at a tournament or two, instead of holding a weekly playoff to determine who competes that week. Sometimes the top five players go, sometimes it’s middle-of-the-pack players.
“It’s a chance for all of our players to get some scores under their belts, to tee it up in competition and see how they respond,” Buzbee said. “They got to play side by side with top ranked opponents and get a taste of varsity competition. They will all be better players for the experience, even if it was a bit painful.”
Thursday at Black Canyon, Cooper Senn led Eagle Valley at 80, Stuart Rasmussen hit an 83, Hayden Floyd hit an 85 and Jimmy Pritchard nailed an 89, his first time under 90 in competition.
Cortez, a state golf power, won its second tournament title in three days, winning Thursday at Black Canyon with a team score of 215.
Brian Grubbs of Cortez was the individual winner with a 66.
“I think it’s a stronger group overall in the Western Region than it has been in many years,” Buzbee said. “Many players can go under par.”
Eagle Valley played four days straight this week, starting with Monday’s rainout in Grand Junction.
Battle Mountain and Eagle Valley stay a little closer to home next week.
Both teams play Monday in Rifle, then are back home Tuesday for the Battle Mountain Invitational at the Vail golf course. They’re at the Gypsum Creek golf course Thursday for the Eagle Valley Invitational.
Staff Writer Randy Wyrick can be reached at 970-748-2935 or rwyrick@vaildaily.com.
