The Montezuma-Cortez golf team wrapped up its 2016 regular season last Friday at Monte Vista Golf Club.
Playing in their fifth and final Intermountain League meet of the year, the Panthers finished with two first-team all-conference players and the IML’s Most Valuable Player.
In order to determine all-conference selections, players from league teams M-CHS, Alamosa, Pagosa Springs and Monte Vista averaged their top three finishes from league play.
On Friday, M-CHS freshman Blake Keetch won the meet with a 77, Cris Rudosky shot an 82, Luke Gross finished at 108, Forrest Gomez at 109 and Jens Jorgensen shot a 114.
“Blake played a great round,” said head coach Micah Rudosky. “It’s a nine-hole course, narrow and not real long. And the way Blake hits it, it’s not surprising. Because he hits it straight and has a nice short game.”
After tallying Friday’s scores and figuring averages, Keetch and Rudosky were both named first-team all-conference.
And with the lowest average in the IML, Rudosky was named the league MVP.
Next up for the Panthers is the Class 3A Region 4 Tournament at Devil’s Thumb in Delta on Monday.
M-CHS will be represented by Rudosky, Keetch, Gross and Jorgensen as they attempt to advance to the state tournament.
“We don’t have to go out there and shoot 72,” explained Rudosky. “We’d like to, but we don’t have to. The boys need to keep it realistic. If we can shoot anywhere from 75 to 82, I believe it gets us in there.”
Rudosky is confident that his son Cris and Keetch can qualify for the state touranment. And he hopes that Gross or Jorgensen can shoot in the high 80s to give the Panthers a chance to qualify as a team.
He also said he believes his players’ knowledge of the course will be beneficial.
“We’ve been fortunate that we play there every year,” he said. “We’re going to get there on Sunday morning, play a practice round again, and they’re going to know this golf course.”
“Now we just have to execute our shots,” he concluded.