It’s a short fall season for the Fort Lewis women’s golf team. The team started its season on Sept. 9 in Broomfield and, on Tuesday, finished its fall season with the Nick Turner Invitational at Hillcrest Golf Club in Durango.
The Skyhawks saved their best result for last. Junior Dimery Plewe led the charge and won the tournament at +1-over-par 145 after two rounds. It’s the second time in program history an FLC women’s golfer has won a tournament and the first time since 2015.
After firing a +2-over-par 74 on Monday, Plewe finished strong with a -1-under-71 on Tuesday to secure the win. Alexandra Escamilla for Lubbock Christian finished in second at +4.
“It felt amazing to do it at home,” Plewe said. “Going under par was the goal for me this season. The crew did such a good job and I felt so much support here and I knew it would probably take that to win the tournament today. It was definitely a mental game focusing in on the last couple of holes and bringing it in. It felt good to do it at home and to trust what we’ve been working on all season.”
Plewe had a lot of experience playing at Hillcrest. She played high school tournaments at Hillcrest while playing for Montezuma-Cortez. At FLC, the team has split time between Hillcrest and Dalton Ranch Golf Club in Durango. As the Nick Turner Invitational got closer, Plewe spent almost every day the last two weeks at Hillcrest preparing.
Putting was key for Plewe in the second round. On the fast and tricky Hillcrest greens, Plewe drained some birdie putts and some par saves. She put herself in the spots she wanted to be in.
Plewe was happy to show off the Hillcrest course, which she said was in spectacular condition. She was excited to show off the fantastic facilities and people.
A transfer from Idaho State University, Plewe said she came to FLC to win tournaments.
“She works really hard,” Skyhawks women’s golf coach Shea Sena said about Plewe. “Not only does she come to our organized practices, but she practices on her own nonstop. Every chance she can get outside of school, she comes out and works really hard at it. She earns those great results.”
Sena said her driving has got a lot better since the beginning of the season. Her putting continues to improve.
FLC finished third overall out of six schools with a +56 over-par score after two days. Lubbock Christian University finished first at +49 and New Mexico Junior College was second at +50.
Behind Plewe, FLC senior Vivianna Holguin and freshman Peyton Gibby finished tied-10th with scores of +16. Holguin was +11 on the final day while Gibby was +9.
“Viv and Peyton both hung in there really well,” Sena said. “Today, neither of them had their best stuff but they hung in there and completed the round with a pretty good score.”
FLC senior Sabrina Ladd finished tied-20th at +22 for the tournament.
Sena said the greens were the biggest challenge. They were rolling super fast, true and tricky.
The Skyhawks finished the fall season on a high and now have the winter to prepare for the spring season, which starts at the end of February.
bkelly@durangoherald.com
