Preps: Durango golf squad aims to defend zone championships

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, March 18, 1999 | 10:26 a.m.

Perhaps more than any other sport, golf is famous for being a solitary activity -- one in which individual honors tend to grab the most headlines.

At Durango High School, however, the 1999 boys golf season is very much about team accomplishments, as a talented group of Trailblazers look to better last year's second place state finish.

"We have as much talent as anybody else in town," Durango coach Jim Allen said. "But what impresses me most is that they're more concerned with team goals than individual goals."

In large part, that team-oriented attitude can be traced to the Trailblazers' leader, junior Randy Creighton. Although he is currently ranked 18th in the nation among boys under-18, Creighton says his primary goal is to help his high school finish first in Nevada.

"Everybody wants to win a state title as an individual, but I'd rather raise the championship banner for the team," Creighton said.

"He's very interested in the team concept of golf and he talks about it to the younger players on the team," Allen said.

Apparently, Creighton's words of wisdom sank in for at least one of those underclassmen -- sophomore Chad Fosburg.

As a freshman last year, Fosburg stunned a senior-dominated field by winning the Southern Zone title and helping the Trailblazers to the zone team championship.

But when Fosburg talks about this season, it's a team state title and not another individual trophy that dominates the conversation.

"Our team means a lot to all of us," Fosburg said. "We really want to win state this year, and when it comes to the team, we really work as one."

After ending last season nine strokes behind Green Valley at the 4A state tournament, the Trailblazers served notice to the defending champs last Thursday, downing the Gators 181-196 in a non-league matchup.

"We wanted to prove that we are the best this year," Creighton said. "It sets the tone for the season and gets our confidence higher. This year, we want to go undefeated, and we realize Green Valley is one of our main opponents."

Although the Gators and Bonanza are expected to give Durango a challenge, the Trailblazers appear to have the most complete lineup in town, with not only Creighton and Fosburg, but also senior Justin Anderson, freshmen Mitch Carlson and Chris Loughney and junior Brian Karn all capable of posting team lows in any given match.