Craig Daily Press

Craig — The Moffat County High School boys golf season doesn’t begin until mid August, but the Bulldogs best ball-striker of a year ago isn’t waiting.

MCHS senior Nick Moyer works on a golf course, plays on golf course and hopes of one day earning a living on a golf course.

Until then, he’s getting in as many rounds as possible.

Moyer has been playing in the Ace Junior Golf Tour this summer, a circuit dedicated to high school golfers with a handicap lower than 12.

Moyer, holder of a 9.6 handicap, currently is sitting in fourth place after three of the seven scheduled events.

“I’m trying to get as much competition in as I can before the high school season starts,” Moyer said. “I’m playing against most of the kids I will face during the (high school) season, so it’s a good learning test for me, and my game.”

The top 4 finishers advance to the Ace Junior Golf Tour championships on August 4.

Moyer led the tour after the season’s first two events, but slipped to fourth after his round at Tiara Rado Golf Course in Grand Junction on Monday.

His round of 78 earned him second place in the tour’s first event in Moyer’s back yard, Yampa Valley Golf Course.

Moyer placed fourth at Devils Thumb Golf Course in Delta last week, but a less than desirable front nine at Tiara Rado led to a season-worst eighth-place finish when he came into the clubhouse with an 87.

“That was by far my worst round in a while,” Moyer said. “I started really bad, but I kind of got it together on the back.”

Moyer closed the final nine holes in 39 strokes, nipping the front nine damage in the bud.

“I’ve shot in the 70s (at Tiara Rado) plenty of times before,” he said. “I don’t know what happened. Wait, I know. I had two quadruple bogeys, that’s what happened.”

Beside his obvious desire to eliminate double-bogeys from his round, Moyer also said he’s playing to attract the attention of a few college recruiters.

“I want to play in college, and I’m going to do whatever it takes to get there,” he said. “I’ve got to play better, go lower and maybe even send some tapes out so I can get noticed.”

His favorite golfer is Ernie Els, but if he had a chance to play a round with any golfer, Arnold Palmer would be his pick.

“He’s a legend,” Moyer said. “For where I want to be further down the road, who better to learn from?”

Moyer’s next Ace event is Monday in Gypsum.