Prep: Fosburg captures golf title

Matt O'Brien

Thursday, May 14, 1998 | 9:37 a.m.

In a field comprised of talented seniors, an underclassman stole the show at the 4A Southern Zone boys golf tournament.

Chad Fosburg, Durango's freshman sensation, fired an even-par 72 and captured the individual title in a sudden death playoff, leading the Trailblazers to the team title Wednesday afternoon at Black Mountain Golf and Country Club in Henderson.

After 18 holes, Fosburg was tied with Randy Cox of Bonanza and Dallas Massey of Green Valley for medalist honors. Cox, a junior, bogeyed the first playoff hole (the par-4 No. 1) and was eliminated. The playoff was decided on the next hole, the Par-5 No. 2, when Massey's three-foot par putt circled the cup and lipped out.

"I was really surprised he missed the putt," said Fosburg, who recovered from a poor drive to par the hole in adverse weather conditions. "I was ready to go to the next hole, because I didn't think a par would win it."

Fosburg, an accomplished junior national golfer, played consistently throughout the day.

"I hit my irons really well, especially on the front nine," he said, referring to the blazing 32 he posted at the turn. "I also putted pretty well. Overall, I was really happy with my play. Everything seemed to go my way today."

And Durango's way as well. The Trailblazers' top five golfers all scored in the 70s (the only team to do so), and their team total of 376 was seven strokes better than runner-up and previously unbeaten Green Valley.

Bonanza, last year's zone champion and state runner-up, finished third at 389. Gorman (390) placed fourth, 18 shots ahead of Cimarron, and was the final team from the zone to qualify for state.

"We've had a solid team one through six all season long," said Durango coach Jim Allen, whose team finished third at last year's zone tournament and sixth at state. "We have six guys who are capable of shooting solid scores every time out. Everyone of them has medaled this year and they all performed well today."

Fosburg received support from Randy Creighton, who posted a 73 and finished fifth after losing a playoff for fourth with Dana Wade of Bonanza. Justin Anderson, Joe Gentile and Steve Simister all shot 77 to round out Durango's balanced scoring.

Joining the players from Durango, Green Valley, Bonanza and Gorman at the state tournament next week are Derek Ashworth (Silverado, 77), Eric Kijowski (Western, 77), David DuCharme (Cimarron, 79), Adam Lanza (Clark, 79) and Michael Russell (Cimarron, 79).

The 36-hole state tournament will be held in Las Vegas next Wednesday and Thursday at Stallion Mountain.