Smith siblings victors in junior golf tournament

MEEKER I “I’m taking the credit and their winnings,” former Rifle coach Jack Smith said with a smile after his three grandkids won their respective divisions in the Meeker Junior Golf tournament.
Siblings Kyler, Jacob and Masi Smith all won, including Kyler having the best score of the day last Monday, where more than 30 youth golfers, including several local, competed at the Meeker Golf Course.
“It’s fun to let the kids get some tournament experience,” local golf pro Jim Cook said. “Tournaments are different, you count every stroke and like Bert Berry said, “You are planting a lot of good seeds.’”
Kyler Smith shot the best score of the day a 77, to win the 15-18 division. Local greenskeeper apprentice, Hunter Fellows, was second in the same division.
Wyatt Carter, also of Rifle, shot an 80 to win the 13-14 division, giving Ty Caron second. Carter’s sister Alyx won the same age division for girls.
Jacob Smith won the 10-12 division by two strokes over Logan Underwood. Rangely’s Greg Rohn was third in the division. Bradley Santelli played four shots better (57) than her younger sister Kendl to win the 10-12 girls’ division. The Santelli sisters traveled the farthest, Crested Butte, of all competitors.
Masi Smith won the girls’ 7-9 division, ahead of local twins Kristin and Kasandra Luce. Tristin Rohn won the 7-9 boys division, six shots ahead of Isaac Ruiz of Rifle.
Meeker’s Zachary Eskelson edged out classmate Zagar Brown to win the 6 and under division by one stroke. Karly Orris, also of Meeker, also won by one shot over Miranva Ruiz.
According to Cook, several parents commented on the quality of the tournament.
“We couldn’t do it without our sponsors Redi Services, White River Electric Association and Pepsi,” Cook said.