Photo by Daniel Mohrmann
Seeing some tough courses can certainly help the Manitou Springs boys golf team early in the season.
The Mustangs got to play in non-league tournaments at the Pueblo Centennial Invite at Walking Stick on Aug. 25, and the Mitchell Marauder Invite at Cherokee Ridge on Aug. 26.
They got admirable showings at both spots as Davis Mack finished tied for 21st at Walking Stick, shooting an 18-over-par 89, and Alex Hansen shot 84 at Cherokee Ridge to finished tied for seventh.
Manitou opened up league play at the Manitou Springs Invite at the Pueblo Country Club on Aug. 30. Mack overcame a tough start to shoot 83 and place in the top 10.
“It’s always that one nine (hole side) that kills me,” Mack said. “I just need to get those double bogeys down to bogeys and I’ll make my way into the 70s.”
Neither Walking Stick nor the Pueblo Country Club are the easiest courses. Walking Stick presents trouble on nearly every hole, while the PCC greens are some of the fastest the team will see all year.
Still, seeing these courses will make the team better at places like Hollydot in Colorado City or Collegiate Peaks in Buena Vista.
“These courses are very difficult, and they’ll help me focus on hitting fairway shots,” Hansen said.
“I also need to play a little more conservative rather than just playing a long ball. The long ball doesn’t always end up in the best place in these courses and it’s far more important to be in the fairway than the long stuff.”
They did get to see a more open and friendlier course Wednesday at the Pueblo South Invite at Elmwood.
Overall results were not available at press time.
The Mustangs head to Buena Vista on Tuesday, Sept. 7, for the second Tri-Peaks tournament of the season.