20 teams compete at Cedar Ridges Golf Course

RANGELY | Twenty teams competed in the annual 27-hole, two-man tournament in two flights at Cedar Ridges Golf Course in Rangely with several players from out of town, and more are expected to play in the couples tournament Saturday and Sunday.
“These are the two biggest tournaments of the year for us, back to back,” course manager Chris Hejl said of the one just played and the upcoming couples tournament.
“About half of the teams were local and about half were from out of town,” Hejl said of the field, which scrambled the first nine holes, played best ball the second nine and used the Chapman format on the final round.
“This was the first year we went back to playing it in one day,” Hejl said. “I think everyone liked getting to play three different formats in one day.”
It was out-of-town players Stratton Schulz and Josh Lowery who put the best score together in the championship flight. The pair from Vernal, Utah, shot a 99 to beat Joe Elliot and Doug Choate of Battlement Mesa by one stroke. Locals Eric Hejl and Kris Huitt finished one shot behind Elliot and Choate to place third.
Locals Robby Elam and Casey Ducey had the best net score (92) in the championship flight and two teams tied for second. Kirk Blaszyk and Craig Nichols of Glenwood Springs tied with Rifle’s Roger Walter and Rick Peterson at 94.
Dave Sorel and Jim Roy had the best gross score (108) in the second flight and Hejl teamed up with James Maybury to finish second with a gross score of 113. Vernal’s Lamar Davis and James Morrow finished with the third-best score (119) in the second flight.
Bernie Shafer and Bryan Mackay recorded the best net score (93) in the second flight, giving Ryan Elam and Jason Cox second by three shots. Father and son Jon and Caleb Templeton placed third with a net score of 98.
Hejl encouraged couples to sign up for the upcoming couples tournament, which starts Saturday.
“We have couples come from Meeker, Rifle, Glenwood Springs, Battlement Mesa, Craig, Steamboat Springs and Vernal,” Hejl said of the expected competition.