As a high school golfer, it's not often you have a gallery following your every move. Most tournaments are spent under the watchful eye of the golfers with whom you're paired and that's it.
At Monday and Tuesday's Class 4A boys golf state tournament in Montrose, Rifle's golfers had mini-galleries, comprising family members and friends, following them around. And they did their best to impress.
Triston Quigley closed out the two-round affair at Cobble Creek Golf Course in 27th place. Danny Bartels finished up in 33rd place and Ty Caron nabbed 67th place."
"We had tons of support," Bears coach Jordan Smith said. "The kids had such a great following. At the state tournament, it's the one time in high school golf that you have a little gallery, where everyone claps when you make a shot."
Quigley, a senior, closed out his prep golf career in fine form, sinking birdies on No. 16 and 17 and then parring the 18th hole. He finished Tuesday with a 5-over-par 77, improving on Monday's 82.
"He made a great par save on his 36th hole," Smith said. "It was a pretty memorable last hole of high school golf."
Bartels, who shot a 79 on Monday, returned to card an 82 on Tuesday. He is also a senior.
As for Caron, a junior, he began his tournament with an 87 on Monday and closed it with an 84 on Tuesday. He'll be back as one of Rifle's senior leaders in 2013.
"I am proud of the boys," Smith said. "I'm happy with how they kept themselves composed."
The Bears will be losing to Bartels and Quigley to graduation but should return a strong squad in 2013. Alongside Caron will be Teig Hauer, who will be a senior and has broken 80 a few times.
Cody Capwell, who will also be a senior, will be back as well. So will sophomore-to-be Wyatt Carter.
"We'll have four real solid players," Smith said.
Palisade's Kyler Smith, a regular at Rifle Creek Golf Course whose dad and grandparents live in Rifle, finished up in 20th place at state. He carded a 74 on Monday and an 80 on Tuesday.
Pueblo Centennial's Jacob Allenback won the tournament, finishing his two rounds with a 5-under-par score of 139.
jcaspersen@postindependent.com
