After a year that saw multiple schedule conflicts along the Western Slope, the Moffat County High SchoolMoffat County High School Invitational at Invitational at Yampa Valley Golf CourseYampa Valley Golf Course was well-attended Monday by teams across the region. was well-attended Monday by teams across the region.

Moffat County High School Invitational at Yampa Valley Golf Course was well-attended Monday by teams across the region.

A competitive field of about 70 players across 11 teams was ultimately won by Montrose with a team total of 218, barely edging out Grand Junction’s 219, though the Tigers took top honors individually with the only athletes on the links to shoot below par, as brothers Trevor and Canon Olkowski finished the day with a 68 and 71, respectively.

Leading the host team was Mike Bingham with a season-best 76 to place seventh in his first time breaking 80 so far this fall.

“I feel really good, irons are hitting straight, and everything’s going pretty good,” he said.

With some solid drives, the Bulldogs’ lowest scorer had a little more trouble on the greens. For instance, what looked like a gimme for an eagle on the 15th hole didn’t turn out the way it should have.

“I missed that putt by three feet,” he said, noting that his second shot on the Par 5 narrowly missed heading in the hole.

Following Bingham on the varsity team were Connor Etzler and Torin Reed, shooting 91 and 93 to add up to a 260 tally to place eighth.

Etzler said he felt he would have performed better if not for arriving late with no time to warm up for the day.

“I think the back nine really got me, both because it’s hard and because that’s where I started,” he said.

He added that after moving past the water hazard-laden half of YVGC, his game picked up later in the afternoon.

MCHS coach Justin Folley said the numbers showed quality play overall, better for some than others, yet still the lowest group score to date this season.

“Good weather, kids played quick today, made for a good round,” he said. “Mikey shot really well today, a little more aggressive, and he knows the course well enough where he can be smart. Torin and Connor, I know both can do better on this course, but they got their birdies and pars where they needed. With a 260, I’m happy as long as we keep moving down.”

Varsity’s Kasen Brennise was unable to play in the home event at YVGC.

Playing on behalf of Bulldog JV were Gage Rowley with a 122 and, in his first tournament ever, James DeWald at 129.

“I’m proud of my JV’ers today, they kept pace, they didn’t X out anything, we just need to keep on moving forward,” Folley said.

MCHS traveled Tuesday to Steamboat Springs’ Haymaker Golf Course.

“Haymaker’s tough, a lot of it will be fairway shots, getting them on where they need to be because if they get off to the side, they’ll be in some trouble,” Folley said Monday.

The Bulldogs went on to finish 10th among varsity groups in Steamboat, with Bingham shooting a 77, Etzler 92 and Reed 95 for a 264 total.

Moffat County will be back in competition Aug. 30 with a tournament at Grand Junction’s Tiara Rado Golf Course.

Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or abockelman@CraigDailyPress.com or follow him on Twitter @CDP_Sports.Contact Andy Bockelman at 970-875-1793 or abockelman@CraigDailyPress.com or follow him on Twitter @CDP_Sports.