Coming off their first tournament win of the season last week, at Cedar Edge Golf Club near Grand Junction, the Summit Tiger golf team headed to Vail for a seven-team tournament Tuesday. With strong individual performances, the team finished fourth scoring a 243, 9-strokes back from tournament winner Basalt and 2-strokes back from third place Aspen.

Head coach Gary Sorensen said the team continues to improve week to week.

“On the season now, of the six matches we’ve played so far, five of the six we’ve done better than the previous year. On average we’re nine strokes better as a team.”

He commended the efforts of Tiger golfer Mike Magnuson on the season so far. “He’s been our most reliable player,” he said.

Magnuson came off of an individual win at Cedar Edge last week, shooting a 79, and finished fifth overall at Vail Tuesday, also shooting a 79.

The Tigers tournament win came last week came at Cedar Edge Golf Club, formerly Deer Creek, in a seven-team Western Slope golf tournament.

After a week away from competition and with their first week of school behind them, the Summit golfers showed they can still play. Three Summit varsity players shot 5-under par of their season averages. With a team score of 252, the effort earned the Tigers the tournament win. Eagle Valley finished second with 271. Montrose was third scoring 277. Summit senior Mike Magnuson finished first overall. Fellow senior Dave Metzger was second just one stroke back with an 80. Moffat County, Cedaredge, Delta and Telluride also competed in the tournament.

At Tuesday’s tournament in Vail, two Summit golfers finished in the top five. Jack Bilenduke finished fourth with a 78, nine strokes back of tournament winner Tristan Rohrbaugh of Basalt. Magnuson finished fifth, one stroke back of Bilenduke.

It was junior Jack Bilenduke’s first round of competition since suffering a concussion two weeks ago during a workout. Sorensen said Bilenduke shot 12-under his average on the day.

“Maybe we should have everyone hit their head,” Sorensen joked.

The team as whole finished eight strokes better than they did at the tournament last year, according to Sorensen. Last years tee boxes were also a combined 400 yards closer, he said.

The team heads to Steamboat Springs Thursday for a tournament at Haymaker Golf Course, to play what Sorensen said should be a number of Western Slope schools.

“Last year we shot the lowest score of our season at that course,” he said.

And like last year, Sorensen hopes that the team is finding its rhythm at the right time.

“It’s nice to peak at the end of the season,” he said.

Next Thursday, Summit will wrap their regular season by hosting the Keystone Ranch Invitational, their final tournament before regionals.

Sorensen is looking for improvements to continue as the team closes the season.

“If we can get one more guy in the 70’s, we can have a legitimate shot at any tournament,” he said.