A big change is in store for Montezuma-Cortez High School golfers as the boys hit the links for the opening tournaments of the 2000 season.

The prep golf scene in Colorado will have a new format. Gone is the one-classification, one-state-tournament format. For the first time, golf will be played within two classifications — 5A and 4A. The Panthers will compete in 4A. Palisade, Rifle, Gunnison, and Moffat County will be among the schools with MCHS. The Grand Valley's three 5A teams will all compete in the Northern Regional Sept. 21 at Indian Peaks in Lafayette. They'll be going against 11 other teams. The West Region's 4A teams will have an advantage with the regional tournament being played at Gunnison and the state tournament at River Valley Ranch in Carbondale Oct. 2-3.

With the split in classifications this year, players will qualify each for the 5A and 4A state tournaments. Central, Fruita Monument and Grand Junction will be competing primarily against Northern League teams from the Fort Collins and Greeley areas plus the two Boulder schools. Fruita-Monument, Grand Junction High and Central of Grand Junction will join Durango to comprise the West Slope's 5A contingent.

The Panthers opened the season at Bookcliff on Aug. 14. Freshman Shea Sena and senior Casey Stone led the way with 78s, sophomore Keenan Lovett of Dolores shot an 83, senior Tony McComb fired an 88 and senior Chris Dibsie shot a 98. The Panthers finished with a 239 total.

Monday's season-opening tournament was won by freshman Jake Hermes of Durango who shot 1-under-par 71.

On Tuesday, Aug. 15, it was Aspen's turn as the Skiers' Colt Hartrich blazed through Tiara Rado Golf Course to win the tournament by three shots. Hartrich shot a 1-under-par 70 to defeat Jeff Franks of Steamboat Springs by three strokes. There was a three-way tie for third at 75 between David Gilman of Cedaredge/Hotchkiss, John VanSant of Durango and Luke Antonelli of Rifle.

The Panthers shot a team total of 256 that day. Sena carded an 81, Lovett 87, Stone 88, McComb 91, and Dibsie 94.

Antonelli continued his steady play; he finished second Monday. Hartrich, who shot a 76 at Bookcliff Country Club on Monday to finish in a tie for sixth, helped the Skiers take the team title. Aspen shot a 228 to defeat Durango by two strokes. Grand Junction, for the second straight day, finished one shot behind Durango and Grand Junction which were third at 231 after finishing second to the Demons Monday.

Grand Junction got consistent rounds from three players as Kyle Sullivan, Eric Winder and Reed Alexander all shot 77. Fruita Monument followed up Monday's third-place finish by placing sixth Tuesday with a 238. B.J. Hough again posted the low score for the Wildcats with a 77 while Chase Wortmann carded a 78 and Zach Topper, playing in his first tournament of the season, an 83.

Tournament action then shifted to Cedaredge on Wednesday, Aug. 16, for 18 holes at Deer Creek Golf Course. Host Cedaredge won with a 230 total. Grand Junction High finished second at 237, Fruita-Monument third 240, and Steamboat Springs 250. Cortez finished in a tie for eighth at 259. For the Panthers, Sena shot an 82, Lovett 86, Stone 91, McComb 94, and Dibsie 98.

Currently Sena has a stroke average of 80.3, Lovett 85.3, Stone 85.6, McComb 90.1, and Dibsie 96.6.

"Right now they are starting out pretty well," MCHS head coach Mike Allison said. "We’ve played in some really good tournaments and the kids are playing pretty well. In two of the tournaments we were only four to five strokes from being out of the top four. That’s a pretty good start."

McComb and Dibsie are going to have to improve their game if they are going to remain on the starting five varsity players, according to Allison. There are some good ones ready to take their place including junior Brandon Hughes, senior Brett Carter, senior Matt Lindsay, freshman Will Lindsay, freshman Casey Richey, junior Kyle Riddell (from Dove Creek), sophomore Alex Stewart, freshman Michael Stroud, and sophomore Alex Thorkelson.

"We have some very good players coming along. We had a good number of kids come out and our qualifying rounds were competitive," he added.

"Overall, the Western Slope has some very, very good teams. Our tournaments have been and will be very competitive. We have our work cut out for us but I feel good about our team," Allison added.

A last-minute schedule change forced the Panthers to miss the tournament at Craig on Aug. 17.

The Panthers will get in a few more tournaments in next week before classes start.

After taking a few days off, the Panthers visit Gunnison on Wednesday, Aug. 23, and Montrose on Thursday, Aug. 24. A quick trip to Pagosa Springs is slated Aug. 28 and the annual Cortez Invitational is set for Conquistador Golf Course on Aug. 29. In that tournament 12 teams have signed up.

They will compete in Durango tournaments on Aug. 30 at Dalton Ranch Golf Club. The final tournament of the regular season is set at Rifle on Sept. 7.

According to Allison, Palisade will have a good team again this year. However, several schools, including Cortez, will provide a strong challenge as the 4A team race looks to be fairly open. West Slope schools will produce some strong individuals this year.