After a lengthy summer on the links, the most devoted duffers vied for the title of champion Saturday and Sunday at Yampa Valley Golf Course.

The two-day tournament concluded with Dan Brown and Lani Cleverly as the new men’s and ladies’ club champions, respectively.

Cleverly had the lowest gross score with a 93 on the first day, followed by a 92. Windy conditions Sunday contributed to a disastrous start on YVGC’s back nine, though the second half of the afternoon was a turn-around.

“I think I really got my shots together,” Cleverly said.

Brown was defending his status as 2017’s champ, one which he’s taken on multiple occasions.

“I think this makes No. 7 for me,” he said.

Still, following Saturday’s 18 holes, it was looking like there might be a challenger to the throne — Trini Loya wrapped the opening day with a 73 to Brown’s 74.

The total was a personal milestone, Loya said, as the +1 on the Par 72 course was three strokes better than he had ever shot in his life.

“I just played lights out on the first day,” he said. “It was all about staying out of trouble and playing smart.”

But, Day 2 belonged to Brown, who repeated his 74 as the only golfer to crack 80 Sunday.

“The greens were really tough. They were fast, if you got downhill, downwind,” Brown said. “Great weekend, good course, good people. I love being out here.”

Brown took a $270 payout, while Cleverly had $120 in a smaller women’s field. With a 153 gross for the weekend, Loya finished as the championship flight’s net winner with a combined 133 with handicap. Jamie Eckroth’s 151 got her the net win among ladies.

Shooting 89 and 88, Hector Flores won the first flight’s gross totals, and Gary James hit 133 in net scores.

James also won the net rankings for the men’s seniors, with the gross winner Rodney Branstetter with 159 among seniors. Branstetter also finished second in the championship flight behind Brown.

Winning women’s seniors was Susan Utzinger (191 gross) and Terresa White (153 net).

The club championships were the site of late summer excitement at YVGC, as were recent accomplishments by regulars Dave Newell and Rick Holford, each of whom claimed hole-in-one honors at the course.

Newell got his ace Aug. 30 on YVGC’s seventh hole, a 168-yard straight shot, witnessed by Michael Beldon and Floyd Montgomery. Holford’s hole-in-one was on Sept. 10 on the 154-yard hole 11, witnessed by Bill Ivy, Dave O’Mailia and Ken Harjes.