Even without any standout individual performances, the familiarity of a home course led the Moffat County High School boys golf team to a season-best.

The Bulldogs, playing in their home tournament at Yampa Valley Golf Course Wednesday, shot a varsity team score of 295, five strokes better than their previous best on the season. While 295 was only good enough for 10th out of the 13 varsity teams attending, head coach Casey Kilpatrick was pleased with his players’ performances.

“That’s another one of those scores where we’re getting lower, little by little,” Kilpatrick said. “I’m happy with the varsity team in that even though we didn’t have one really low score, they all scored pretty consistently and that helped us get a little lower than our previous team best score.”

Leading the way for MCHS again was Sophomore Casey Nations, who shot 93 on the day. Tyler Jenkins shot 99 and Colten Yoast had a personal-best 103 to give the Bulldogs their three-score team total.

Playing well on the course in Craig that MCHS golfers are more familiar with was something Kilpatrick hoped to see. He said the players’ golf games are improving as well.

“They’re definitely improving,” he said. “I can see their golf swings coming around a little bit. Especially the short game is coming around. A lot of them are not having nearly as many putts per round as the beginning of the year.”

Part of that improvement in the short game could be attributed to some special help MCHS players received in the week leading up to the tournament.

While practicing at Yampa Valley, head golf pro Jason Back and Dave Desarmeaux worked with the Bulldogs on their chipping and putting. It is another way YVGC is accommodating to the younger players in the area.

“I really want to thank the Yampa Valley Golf Course for allowing us to play out here and doing what they do for us,” Kilpatrick said. “They give us range balls and let the kids play out here all the time. They made sure the course looked good today. (Superintendent) Jim Boyle and Jason Back just really made sure the tournament ran smooth for us.”

Kilpatrick said the tournament ran smoothly and he thought everyone enjoyed themselves, including the community members who came to support Moffat County and Steamboat Springs High School golfers.

The Bulldog’s next tournament will be at Haymaker Golf Course in Steamboat Springs Sept. 13.

Nate Waggenspack can be reached at 875-1795 or nwaggenspack@craigdailypress.com. Follow Craig Daily Press sports coverage on Twitter at @CDP_Sports.