Earlier this week, the Meeker High School boys golf team wrapped up its August schedule with tournaments at the Panther Invitational in Rangely on Aug. 25 and the Rifle Bears Invitational on Aug. 31, giving the young Cowboys two more opportunities to gain tournament experience before returning to competition in September.
The Cowboys finished ninth at the Panther Invitational with a team score of 361 (+145).
Senior Brycen Peña led the Cowboys with a 107 (+35). Sophomore David Cook followed with a 124 (+52), while freshman Rylan Grimes shot a 130 (+58) and freshman Ian Shimko finished with a 140 (+68).
The Rangely tournament marked another opportunity for Meeker’s younger golfers to compete, with two freshmen and a sophomore joining Peña in the Cowboys’ lineup.
Meeker closed out the month earlier this week at the Rifle Bears Invitational on Aug. 31, finishing 15th overall with a team score of 303 (+87).
Sophomore Sebastian Baumgart led the Cowboys at Rifle with a 94 (+22), finishing 48th overall. Junior Holt Pelloni followed with a 101 (+29), while Cook carded a 108 (+36). Peña finished with a 109 (+37), and sophomore Dylan Rundberg rounded out the Meeker lineup with a 114 (+42).
The Rifle tournament also marked a lower team score for the Cowboys compared with their previous appearance at Rangely, where Meeker finished with a 361 (+145).
The two tournaments continued a busy first month for a Meeker roster that features just one senior in Peña and a large group of younger golfers gaining varsity experience.
The Cowboys’ August schedule included six tournaments, giving the young roster plenty of opportunities to experience different courses and competitive fields.
Meeker will now have a break from tournament play before returning to competition Sept. 8 at Vail Golf Club.
As of press time, the Herald Times had not received comments from head coach Jason Back regarding the Rangely and Rifle tournaments.
The break will give the Cowboys an opportunity to continue developing their game before beginning the September portion of their schedule, with the young Meeker roster looking to build on the experience gained during its first month of competition.
Meeker golfer watches his putt toward the hole during the Rifle Bears Invitational on Aug. 31 at Rifle Creek Golf Course. The Cowboys finished 15th as a team with a score of 303 (+87) while continuing to gain valuable experience against a competitive field. Jared Henderson PHOTO