It was a battle on the golf course Wednesday between Durango and Montezuma-Cortez in the season-opening boys golf tournament held at Pagosa Springs Golf Club.
Thayer Plewe led a strong contingent from Montezuma-Cortez High School with a 2-over-par 73. He had a bogey on the par-4 second hole and another on the par-5 sixth. He then played nine holes at even par before a bogey at No. 16, a par-4. He followed that with a birdie on the par-3 17th and got into the clubhouse with a 73 to win the tournament.
Plewe was two strokes in front of teammate Blake Keetch, who was 3-under-par through seven holes and remained under par through 11 holes before a double bogey on No. 12 and another double on No. 15 derailed his under-par bid.
Nathan Smith of Pagosa Springs finished third at 5-over, while Durango’s Levi Tichi was fourth at 7-over. Also for Durango, Ethan Whidden placed fifth at 8-over, and Luke Ford was sixth at 9-over. Levi Larson placed eighth at 12-over.
Justin Brunner of Cortez was seventh at 11-over to help the Panthers shoot 17-over as a team to win the tournament. That was seven shots clear of Durango, which finished second. Pagosa Springs was a distant third at 45-over, while Alamosa was fourth at 47-over and Monte Vista last at 75-over.
Durango was able to take a big team to the tournament before school will begin Monday. Sten Joyner shot 17-over and placed 13th, while Brady McCaw was at 18-over to place 14th. Jacob Genualdi shot 25-over to place 17th, and Michael Marquez was in the top 20 at 28-over to take 20th.
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
