Boys golf produces the first state champions of the high school athletic year in Colorado, so there’s always something special about it.

And the 2018 state tournaments didn’t disappoint in producing memorable results:

— There was Aspen, a school that uses the nickname “Skiers”, winning its first state team championship in boys high school golf as it prevailed in the 3A tournament at Boulder Country Club.

“We’ve been looking for that banner for a long time,” coach Mary Woulfe said. “We put the banners up in the gym for the state championships, and there’s been a big hole missing for us. We’ve had a lot of really good teams and we’ve had great teams in years Kent Denver has just buried us. It’s been like, ‘Wow, what do we need to do?’ But the guys knew we were on a mission for this.”

— There was senior Dillon Stewart of Fossil Ridge filling a hole on his golf resume by rallying from four shots behind on the final day to win his first state title in his final day of high school golf. That victory at the 5A meet at Colorado Springs Country Club was a fitting culmination to a golf season in which Stewart won individual and team championships at the Junior America’s Cup and notched two victories in AJGA events. And to add to Stewart’s accomplishment, he led Fossil Ridge to its first state team title in boys golf.

“It feels great, especially after what happened last year (finishing second to Davis Bryant, who’s now playing at Colorado State University),” Stewart said. “I give credit to him — he’s a good player — but I’m finally kind of doing what he did in taking second his junior year and winning his senior year. It feels good this time. And we won as a team this year, so it feels even better.”

— There was senior Jackson Klutznick of Kent Denver, once a standout tennis player, who made such a successful transition to high-level golf that he won the 3A individual title Tuesday in Boulder.

Klutznick was once the top-ranked tennis player in the state for boys age 12-14, but something his tennis coach told him caused him to give up that sport and put much more emphasis on golf.

“He told me that when I’m playing tennis, I need to be hating the person on the other side of the net,” Klutznick noted on Tuesday. “I came down to the decision, I didn’t want to do that. That’s not me. I golf, you’re telling (your playing partners) they hit a great shot or an awesome putt. You’re not trying to bring them down. I thought that was a much more positive mindset to be in than trying to hate the person I’m playing against.”

(At left, Klutznick is congratulated by coach Bob Austin.)

— And then there was Montrose sweeping the team and individual championships in the 4A meet at The Club at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs. The Indians won the team title for the second straight year, while junior Micah Stangebye prevailed by five to become the school’s first individual state champion in boys golf.

Here’s a look at how the three boys state tournaments went down on Tuesday:

— 3A AT BOULDER COUNTRY CLUB: On a day that only one player broke par — Billy Howenstein of host Dawson, with a 1-under 69 — Klutznick emerged from the battle of attrition with the individual trophy. The senior shot a 2-over-par 72, giving him a winning total of 1-under 139, good for a three-stroke victory.

“This means a lot,” said Klutznick (left), who finished fourth in the 3A state tournament each of the past two years. “I was going through a time (this past summer) where I really didn’t want to play anymore. I was done. I had too much practice with no results. I had eight or nine tournaments planned and I told my dad I’m not playing in any of them.

“But in the middle of the (high school) season, I realized it’s not so much about where you end up as it is being surrounded by people you want to be there with. These are some of the nicest guys I’ve ever played with in my life. It was unbelievably meaningful
to have my team behind me and so many good people behind me. It really meant a lot.”

Klutznick overcame a double bogey on No. 8 — where he hit a ball out of bounds — to play his final 10 holes in 1 under. He pitched to within a foot of the hole on the par-5 12th to make birdie and go ahead for good, and added another birdie on 16 before three-putting for bogey on 18 where the champion had already been decided.

“I’m so proud of Jackson,” said Bob Austin, who has coached Kent Denver to eight state team titles, though the Sun Devils finished second on Tuesday. “He’s worked as hard as anybody I’ve ever had.

“He’s a tough kid and he hits the shots when he needs to hit the shots. I’m happy to put him up there with the other Kent individual champions (Oliver Jack, Ben Moore, Ethan Freeman twice, Beau Schoolcraft and Kevin Stadler). I’ve been very fortunate to coach a lot of great players at Kent Denver, and his name is among those great players. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Klutznick won just one other individual title this high school season and has no offers to play college golf — at least not yet.

“I was very surprised” to win the state title this week, the 17-year-old from Denver said, noting that this victory stood apart as the biggest thing he’s accomplished in golf.

Junior Walker Franklin of Prospect Ridge was the last major challenger to Klutznick down the stretch on Tuesday. He was even-par for the tournament through 33 holes, but a pulled tee shot and a three-putt from 3 feet on the par-4 16th led to a triple bogey and the end of his title hopes after placing second last year.

“I don’t even know what happened,” he said of the 16th hole. “I just hit a bad tee shot, and a bad shot led into another one. Trying to make a putt, I slammed it by. I just couldn’t control my emotions.

“I’m disappointed. It’s just like a repeat of last year, just not being able to pull through. It just didn’t go my way.”

Franklin finished tied for fourth at 144 with Aspen’s Jack Pevny (left).

Jack Hughes of Aspen ended up taking second place at 142 despite drawing a two-stroke penalty for hitting a wrong ball. Hughes shot an even-par 70 on Tuesday.

Taking third place was the 2017 champion, Davis Long of Peak to Peak, who also carded a second-round 70 to check in at 143.

Peter Grossenbacher of Eaton, who carded a sterling 65 on Monday, struggled to an 82 on Tuesday to share 10th place at 147.

With Aspen (below) putting two individuals in the top four, the Skiers overcame nine-time state champion Kent Denver for the team title. Aspen — with a team comprised of Hughes, Pevny, Dawson Holmes and Dominic Lanese IV — finished with a two-day total of 14-over-par 234, which was nine better than Kent Denver. Holy Family was third at 457.

“Jack Hughes said to me (prior to the season), ‘Mary, our team is going to win a state championship this year,'” Woulfe said. “He’s an exceptional player. He’s always played very aggressively, but there were times today he pulled out an iron because it wasn’t about him, it was about his team. That’s really impressive.

“The big question (about this team) has always been, ‘Are these guys that good?’ And they just proved it today. Kent Denver is incredibly difficult to take down in 3A.”

— 5A AT COLORADO SPRINGS COUNTRY CLUB: Stewart, who will sign a letter of intent this fall to play his college golf at national powerhouse Oklahoma State, showed his stuff on Tuesday by shooting a 5-under-par 66, the best score of the tournament by two strokes.

Stewart trailed by four going into the final round, but rallied by making six birdies and one bogey on Tuesday. And he finished with a flurry, holing a 20-foot birdie from the fringe on No. 17 and getting up and down from a greenside bunker on No. 18, draining a 3-footer for birdie on the final shot of his high school career.

That gave Stewart a two-stroke victory over first-round leader Connor Jones of Mountain Range, who outdueled Stewart for the season-long league title this year.

“There was no doubt in my mind this morning that I could post a good number — and I posted the number I needed to post,” Stewart said. “I knew I had to shoot in the 60s — and not just 69.”

Jones, who was 5 under par for the tournament through 30 holes, held the advantage until well into the back nine. But he played his final six holes in 3 over par, while Stewart birdied his last two.

“The birdie putt I made on 17 was probably the biggest putt I made all week,” Stewart said. “Connor was waiting on the tee box behind us. He saw that from the tee box and was (probably) like, ‘Damn.’ So that was a really good point in the day that kind of shifted things.

“But Connor played really good all year, so I knew it was going to be tough today. Me and him went back and forth in matches all year.”

Stewart finished with a 4-under 138 total at Colorado Springs CC, while Jones checked in at 140 after a closing 72. Ty Findlow of Valor Christian placed third at 144.

Team-wise, Stewart’s Fossil Ridge squad prevailed by five for the school’s first state title in boys golf. It finished at 24-over-par 450, a handful of strokes ahead of Lakewood, six better than Arapahoe, and eight better than Regis Jesuit, which had won seven of the past eight state titles.

— 4A AT THE CLUB AT FLYING HORSE IN COLORADO SPRINGS: The big prizes went to Montrose on Tuesday at Flying Horse.

Stangebye, who led by four going into the final round, wasn’t seriously challenge as he was steady as a rock in a 1-under-par 71 day. The junior finished with four birdies and three bogeys on Tuesday, giving him a 4-under 140 total for the tournament.

Stangebye’s two rounds — 69-71 — were the best two of the week at Flying Horse.

Mac Konrad of Pondersa took second place at 145 after closing with a 72, while TJ Sheehee of Mead was third at 147 after a second-round 73.

With Montrose putting four players in the top 25 individually, the Indians successfully defended their 4A team title. This time, they finished at 19-over-par 451, six strokes better than runner-up Steamboat Springs. Palmer Ridge (468) placed third.

Here are the top team and individual finishers at the three tournament:

CLASS 5A AT COLORADO SPRINGS CC
Team
1. Fossil Ridge 229-221–450
2. Lakewood 223-232–455
3. Arapahoe 229-227–456
4. Regis Jesuit 231-227–458
5. Valor Christian 236-223–459
Individual
1. Dillon Stewart, Fossil Ridge 72-66–138
2. Connor Jones, Mountain Range 68-72–140
3. Ty Findlow, Valor Christian 74-70–144
4. Ryan Liao, Lakewood 71-74–145
5. Brandon Bervig, Liberty 72-74–146
6. Tarek Salem, Highland Ranch 73-75–148
T7. Jonas Graham, Chaparral 77-73–150
T7. Bo Wardynski, Regis Jesuit 77-73–150
T7. Ryder Heuston, Fairview 76-74–150
T10. Chris Kennedy, Smoky Hill 77-74–151
T10. Carson Kerr, Grand Junction 76-75–151
T10. Caleb Busta, Arapahoe 75-76–151
T10. Riley Rottschaefer, Arapahoe 76-75–151

CLASS 4A AT THE CLUB AT FLYING HORSE IN COLORADO SPRINGS
Team
1. Montrose 221-230–451
2. Steamboat Springs 229-228–457
3. Palmer Ridge 234-234–468
4. Ponderosa 241-236–477
5. Mullen 239-240–479
Individual
1. Micah Stangebye, Montrose 69-71–140
2. Mac Konrad, Ponderosa 73-72–145
3. TJ Shehee, Mead 74-73–147
T4. Jack Rotermund, Steamboat Springs 73-76–149
T4. Traejan Andrews, Northridge 73-76–149
6. Hunter Swanson, Northfield 77-74–151
T7. Mario Dino, Mullen 79-73–152
T7. Jake Chesler, Frederick 78-74–152
T7. Kellen Kudrna, Mead 74-78–152
T10. Oliver Rotermund, Steamboat Springs 77-76–153
T10. Drew Laake, Palmer Ridge 79-74–153
T10. Ethan Whidden, Durango 76-77–153

CLASS 3A AT BOULDER COUNTRY CLUB
Team
1. Aspen 214-220–434
2. Kent Denver 215-228–443
3. Holy Family 225-232–457
4. Eaton 235-237–472
5. The Classical Academy 242-234–476
Individual
1. Jackson Klutznick, Kent Denver 67-72–139
2. Jack Hughes, Aspen 72-70–142
3. Davis Long, Peak to Peak 73-70–143
T4. Jack Pevny, Aspen 68-76–144
T4. Walker Franklin, Prospect Ridge 71-73–144
T6. Jacob Mason, Holy Family 74-71–145
T6. Billy Howenstein, Dawson 76-69–145
T8. Jeffrey Zhou, Kent Denver 75-71–146
T8. Liam O’Halloran, The Classical Academy 72-74–146
T10. Carlo Pine, Telluride 70-77–147
T10. Westin Pals, Lutheran 75-72–147
T10. Peter Grossenbacher, Eaton 65-82–147

When Eaton senior Peter Grossenbacher bogeyed two of his first three holes to start the 3A boys state high school tournament on Monday at Boulder Country Club, he didn’t despair.

After all, he just thought about Tiger Woods, who won the 1997 Masters after playing his first nine holes in 4 over par at Augusta National.

“I had a picture of Tiger Woods on my cart. I was just looking at him,” Grossenbacher noted on Monday. “He won his first major at the Masters (despite that slow start). Even if I would have double bogeyed 1, I could have still shot low today. It was fun — really fun.”

Indeed, what’s not fun about rallying to shoot a 5-under-par 65 — the best competitive round of his life by four and the best round of any type by two — and leading after the first round of the 36-hole state meet?

Oh, and by the way … that includes a cool 6-under-par 29 on the back nine.

“I came out here in the practice rounds and had pretty good scores — 69 and 70 — but today it felt like I was just seeing it and feeling it. It was awesome,” Grossenbacher said.

“I haven’t prepared for a tournament more than I have this one. I worked so hard leading up to it the last two or three weeks. I’m just happy I made it happen. It’s the best place to do it.”

On a day that three boys state high school tournaments cranked up, Grossenbacher posted the best score at any site on Monday.

Not coincidentally, the player in second place at the 3A state tournament came out of the same first-round pairing. That would be senior Jackson Klutznick of Kent Denver, who carded a 67. And while Grossenbacher shot a 29 on the back nine, Klutznick wasn’t shabby either, with a 31. (The two are pictured at left, with Grossenbacher in the white shirt.)

“We were making a joke throughout the round that it was kind of a (Rory) McIlroy and (Patrick) Reed scenario” from the 2016 Ryder Cup, Klutznick said. “It was really a good time. We were having a bunch of fun.

“The back nine was probably one of the better rounds I’ve ever played, especially with (Grossenbacher) playing as well as he did. We definitely fed off each other.”

After making the turn at 1 over par, Grossenbacher birdied No. 10 from 15 feet. Then on the 523-yard 12th, he took such an aggressive line that he thought he may have driven the ball out of bounds, so he hit a provisional. But it turned out his original ball was just 145 yards from the flag, meaning his unleashed a drive in the 375-yard range. He ended up making eagle from 20 feet.

“Something started clicking after that eagle,” he said. “I knew I was right back in it. I was 2 over through 3, so after being 2 under, I felt I had a bunch of room to run.”

So he added birdies on 13, 15 and 16 — all from inside of 10 feet.

“It doesn’t really come as a surprise almost because I’ve been thinking about it and visualizing this course in my head for so long,” Grossenbacher said. “I told my brother I was going to shoot 66 today. It’ll be fun to call him and tell him I shot 65.

“Up until now this is definitely one of the biggest moments of my life. I really want to get it done tomorrow (and win the title). It would mean the world to me. I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything this bad.”

Grossenbacher (left) has won six individual titles in eight high school tournaments this season, including his second straight regional title.

Meanwhile, Klutznick also kick-started his round with an eagle on No. 12, with his putt coming from 14 feet. He backed that up with a 6-foot birdie on No. 13 and a 10-footer at No. 14.

“(Grossenbacher) was playing absolutely lights out and he kept making these long putts,” Klutznick said. “I was realizing I had to make them too. That’s just how that works. It was just back and forth with the putting is what it came down to.

“The back nine was probably one of the better rounds I’ve ever played, especially with him playing as well as he did. We definitely fed off each other.”

The only other player to break par at Boulder Country Club on Monday was Jack Pevny of Aspen, who carded a 68.

“This course, if you’re not on your game, it’s going to eat you alive,” said Prospect Ridge’s Walker Franklin, who sits in fifth place at 71 despite a double bogey on the 12th hole that Grossenbacher and Klutznick eagled. “So being three or four back is normally like being one or two behind on another course. So it’s not that big of a difference.”

In the 3A team competition, Aspen shot a 4-over-par 214 and leads nine-time state champion Kent Denver by one going into the final round. Holy Family is third at 225.

As for the other two boys state tournaments:

— 5A at Colorado Springs Country Club: Connor Jones of Mountain Range was the only player to break par on Monday as he shot a 3-under-par 68. Jones, who finished sixth last year at state, eagled the 404-yard, par-4 third hole and added two birdies and a bogey. Jones had also holed out for eagle on the same hole in Sunday’s practice round.

Ryan Liao of Lakewood is Jones’ closest pursuer as he trails by three after an even-par 71.

Tied in third place at 72 are Dillon Stewart of Fossil Ridge and Brandon Bervig of Liberty. Stewart, who shot a 63 in winning a regional tournament, is in the midst of an outstanding season, having won the individual and team titles at the Junior America’s Cup along with two AJGA championships.

Lakewood leads the team competition at 10-over-par 223, while Arapahoe and Fossil Ridge sit at 229. Regis Jesuit, winner of seven of the last eight 5A titles, shares fourth place with Cherry Creek at 231.

— 4A at The Club at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs: Micah Stangebye of Montrose opened up a four-stroke lead by shooting a 3-under-par 69 at Flying Horse. Stangebye, who tied for fourth place last year, birdied three of the first four holes and finished the day with six birdies, a bogey and a double bogey.

Three players share second place at 73 — Traejan Andrews of Northridge, Mac Konrad of Ponderosa and Jack Rotermund of Steamboat Springs. Rotermund was 3 under par through 11 holes, but went 4 over the rest of the way.

Montrose, winner of the 4A team title last year and the runner-up in 2016, grabbed an eight-stroke lead on Monday by firing a 5-over-par 221. Steamboat is second at 229 and Palmer Ridge third at 234.

In all three state tournaments, the individual leaders will tee off for Tuesday’s final round at 10:57 a.m.

Here are the leaders at the three tournaments:

CLASS 5A AT COLORADO SPRINGS CC
Team
1. Lakewood 223
2. (tie) Arapahoe and Fossil Ridge 229
4. (tie) Cherry Creek and Regis Jesuit 231
Individual
1. Connor Jones, Mountain Range 68
2. Ryan Liao, Lakewood 71
T3. Brandon Bervig, Liberty 72
T3. Dillon Stewart, Fossil Ridge 72
T5. Noah Dibiase, Lakewood 73
T5. Tarek Salem, Highland Ranch 73
T7. Cade Kilkenny, Cherry Creek 74
T7. Ty Findlow, Valor Christian 74
T7. Walker Fuller, Regis Jesuit 74
10. Caleb Busta, Arapahoe 75

CLASS 4A AT THE CLUB AT FLYING HORSE IN COLORADO SPRINGS
Team
1. Montrose 221
2. Steamboat Springs 229
3. Palmer Ridge 234
4. Mullen 239
T5. Northridge 241
T5. Ponderosa 241
Individual
1. Micah Stangebye, Montrose 69
T2. Jack Rotermund, Steamboat Springs 73
T2. Mac Konrad, Ponderosa 73
T2. Traejan Andrews, Northridge 73
T5. Kellen Kudrna, Mead 74
T5. Ryan Lords, Montrose 74
T5. TJ Shehee, Mead 74
8. Nick Vaver, Centaurus 75
T9. Clay Whitton, Evergreen 76
T9. Ethan Whidden, Durango 76
T9. Oliver Gibbons, Green Mountain 76
T9. Rhett Johnson, Mullen 76

CLASS 3A AT BOULDER COUNTRY CLUB
Team
1. Aspen 214
2. Kent Denver 215
3. Holy Family 225
4. Eaton 235
5. Basalt 241
Individual
1. Peter Grossenbacher, Eaton 65
2. Jackson Klutznick, Kent Denver 67
3. Jack Pevny, Aspen 68
4. Carlo Pine, Telluride 70
5. Walker Franklin, Prospect Ridge 71
T6. Jack Hughes, Aspen 72
T6. Liam O’Halloran, The Classical Academy 72
T8. Davis Long, Peak to Peak 73
T8. Jacobo Arango, Kent Denver 73
T10. Dawson Holmes, Aspen 74
T10. Jacob Mason, Holy Family 74
T10. Jimmy Clark, Lamar 74
 

But there’s at least one major item left on his to-do list regarding Colorado junior golf, and the opportunity to check it off his list comes early next week.

The Fossil Ridge senior, who plans on signing a national letter of intent with perennial college powerhouse Oklahoma State later this fall, has yet to win a state high school title. He finished second last year as now-Colorado State University player Davis Bryant prevailed. In previous seasons, Stewart placed 16th in 2016 and 19th as a freshman in 2015.

But Stewart has certainly put together a record in recent months that point to him as the player to beat next week:

— He won the individual title at the prestigious Junior America’s Cup competition, leading Colorado to its first team championship ever in that event.

— He became the first boy from Colorado to prevail at the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior.

— He also qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur and won an AJGA event in Montana.

— And just last week at Murphy Creek Golf Course, Stewart fired a 9-under-par 63 in winning the 5A Northern Regional state qualifying tournament by five shots. He posted a 7-under 29 on the front nine and was an amazing 11 under through 15 holes before bogeying 16 and 17. He finished ith 11 birdies and two bogeys on the day.

Stewart will be among 84 players competing in the Class 5A state tournament at Colorado Springs Country Club on Monday and Tuesday. That will be one of two 36-hole state tournaments held in Colorado Springs on those days as the 4A meet is set for The Club at Flying Horse. The 3A tournament is scheduled for Boulder Country Club.

Here’s a quick look at what to expect from each of next week’s boys state tournaments:

— 5A at Colorado Springs Country Club: Stewart will be one of four top-10 finishers from the 2017 5A state tournament who will be competing in Colorado Springs. The other three — all of whom tied for sixth place, are Connor Jones from Mountain Range, Ryder Heuston of Fairview and Beam Boonta of Cherokee Trail.

Among the other qualifiers for the 5A state field are Valor Christian’s Jake Welch, who beat Stewart by two at the Colorado Junior Amateur over the summer, and U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier Chris Kennedy of Smoky Hill. Welch shot a 68 to win the 5A Central Regional at Legacy Ridge. Valor Christian played in 4A last year, when Welch placed seventh at state, but now is in 5A.

Team-wise, Regis Jesuit will be going for its fourth consecutive 5A championship, eighth in the last nine years, and 10th overall. Meanwhile, at its regional meet, Fossil Ridge shot 6-under 210 to win at Murphy Creek.

— 4A at The Club at Flying Horse: Only two players who finished in the top 10 in last year’s 4A meet are back to compete in the same tournament at Flying Horse — and both are from Montrose. That would be Micah Stangebye, who tied for fourth, and Jordan Jennings, who finished seventh. Those two players tied for the lowest 4A regional tournament scores this year, matching 69s at Indian Peak in 4A Region 4.

Others who will be competing include TJ Shehee of Mead, a 2017 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier who won the 4A Region 3 tournament at the Olde Course at Loveland; and Kaden Ford of Discover Canyon, who competed in the Drive, Chip & Putt Nationals at Augusta National in April.

Montrose, winner of the 4A team title last year and the runner-up in 2016, figures to be a strong contender for another championship. The Indians shot a regional-best 2-under-par 214 at Indian Peaks to win 4A Region 4.

— 3A at Boulder Country Club: Davis Long of Peak to Peak will be the only 2017 individual state high school champion back to defend his title last week. Last year’s state tournament at Indian Peaks was limited to one round due to weather.

Long is one of seven top-10 finishers in the 2017 3A state tournament returning for this year’s meet. The others were Walker Franklin of Prospect Ridge (tied for second), Dominic Lanese IV and Derek Holmes of Aspen (fourth), Peter Grossenbacher of Eaton (fourth), Jackson Klutznick of Kent Denver (fourth) and Billy Howenstein of Dawson (fourth).

Along with Stewart — and current college players Bryant and Cal McCoy — Franklin was part of the Colorado team that won its first-ever Junior America’s Cup title over the summer.

Peak to Peak won’t be able to defend its team title in Boulder as the Pumas only qualified two players for state. They prevailed last year in a playoff over 2016 champion Kent Denver. It was Peak to Peak’s second team title in three years.

Meanwhile, Kent Denver will be seeking its 10th boys state championship next week.

This will be the second high school state tournament hosted by Boulder CC in the last four-plus months as the 5A girls meet was held there in late May.

For Monday’s tee times at all three state tournament sites, CLICK HERE.
 

Here are the teams and individuals that won regional state-qualifying tournaments last week:

5A Southern at Murphy Creek GC — Team: Arapahoe 3-over-par 219; Individual: (tie) Jack Tickle, Arapahoe, 71; Riley Rottschaefer, Arapahoe, 71; Brandon Bervig, Liberty, 71.
5A Central at Legacy Ridge GC — Team: (tie) Fairview 7-over-par 223 (won team playoff); Valor Christian 223; Individual: Jake Welch, Valor Christian 68.
5A Western at GC at Redlands Mesa — Team: Ralston Valley 9-over-par 225; Individual: Ryan Bomareto, Horizon 71.
5A Northern at Murphy Creek GC — Team: Fossil Ridge 6-under-par 210; Individual: Dillon Stewart, Fossil Ridge 63.

4A Region 3 at Olde Course at Loveland — Team: Evergreen 17-over-par 233; Individual: TJ Shehee, Mead, 71.
4A Region 1 at Shining Mountain — Team: Coronado 39-over-par 249; Individual: Andrew Merz, Coranado 76.
4A Region 4 at Indian Peaks — Team: Montrose 2-under-par 214; Individual: (tie) Micah Stangebye, Montrose, 69; Jordan Jennings, Montrose, 69.
4A Region 2 at Eisenhower’s Silver Course — Team: Ponderosa 24-over-par 240; Individual: Mac Konrad, Ponderosa 76.

3A Region 2 at CommonGround — Team: Kent Denver 2-over-par 215; Individual: Jacob Mason, Holy Family, 67.
3A Region 1 at Hollydot — Team: Colorado Academy 16-over-par 229; Individual: Cody Schrock, La Junta, 70.
3A Region 3 at Boomerang — Team: Eaton 8-over-par 224; Individual: Peter Grossenbacher, Eaton, 70.
3A Region 4 at Dos Rios — Team: Aspen 1-over-par 214; Individual: Jack Hughes, Aspen 70.
 

The two Coloradans who qualified on Monday at Colorado Springs Country Club for the U.S. Senior Amateur will certainly take interesting stories to the national championship.

Guy Mertz (left) of Longmont lived in Minnesota for the first 26 years of his life, within 100 miles of where the U.S. Senior Am will be contested late next month. And Colorado Golf Hall of Famer John Olive of Colorado Springs drew extra satisfaction from qualifying just shy of his 72nd birthday as he’ll surely be one of the oldest competitors in the field Aug. 26-31 at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis.

Those two were joined in qualifying for the national championship on Monday by David Nelson of Reno, Nev., who has played in an amazing 30 previous USGA championships, including the 1982 U.S. Open that Tom Watson won at Pebble Beach.

Mertz, a 58-year-old dentist, was born and raised in Rochester, Minn., and he graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1985, when he moved to Colorado.

“My parents live there and so do many of my friends,” Mertz noted after qualifying on Monday. “I wanted to play in this so bad at Minikahda. That’s why it was so much harder for me. I was choking my guts out because of that.

“Mike Larson (a fellow competitor who narrowly missed joining Mertz in qualifying on Monday) is a buddy of mine who’s from Minnesota too. Since they announced Minikahda, we’ve been saying, ‘God, wouldn’t it be great if you and I go back?’ We’ve been talking about it for literally two years. So to get back there, with everything it means to me …

“Today was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been on a golf course,” added Mertz, winner of a CGA Publinks and a CGA Senior Match Play. “I’m just so happy to make this.”

It will be the first U.S. Senior Amateur for Mertz (who has competed in a U.S. Amateur and three U.S. Publinks), the sixth for Nelson and roughly the fifth for Olive. The Senior Am is limited to players 55 and older.

Nelson, a 61-year-old who runs some USGA qualifying tournaments in northern Nevada but was visiting his daughter and grandkids in Denver, was the only player out of the 60-man field to break par on Monday. Despite starting his round with a double bogey, he shot a 1-under-par 70 to earn medalist honors.

Mertz and Olive (left), along with three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Robert Polk of Parker, tied at 71 after each posting rounds that included three birdies and three bogeys. With that, there was a three-way playoff for the final two national berths.

Mertz, who made an 8-foot birdie on the final hole of regulation to land a spot in the playoff, earned the first national berth when he two-putted from 25 feet for par on the first extra hole. Olive went over the green on No. 10 with his approach shot and missed a 10-foot par putt, settling for bogey. Polk, who had bogeyed his final hole in regulation, was left in the trees off the tee and also made bogey.

After Polk’s drive on the second playoff hole — No. 6 — finished stymied behind a tree in the right rough, he took an unplayable-lie penalty and didn’t get on the green until his fifth stroke on the par-4. Olive, after a perfect drive, two-putted from 18 feet for par and the final national berth.

Olive is certainly no stranger to USGA championships, having competed in a U.S. Senior Open and a U.S. Amateur in addition to many U.S. Mid-Ams and Senior Ams. He’s also won a CGA Amateur — exactly 40 years ago — over the likes of fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Steve Jones, Gary Longellow, Bill Loeffler, Tom Woodard, Mark Crabtree, Rick DeWitt and Ron Moore; as well as the first CoBank Colorado Senior Open and nine individual CGA senior titles. But adding to his USGA total in his 70s is especially sweet.

“It feels good,” the former Air Force Academy basketball player said. “The older you get, the more you appreciate the little things that sometimes you took for granted (earlier). When I was younger, I put a lot of pressure on myself and had expectations that I should qualify and should do this and that. Now, you just don’t. I think it’s a blessing. It helps you play better.”

Not many amateurs can say they’ve competed in more than 30 USGA championships, but Nelson (below) keeps adding to his total. He said he’s played in every one he’s eligible for except the U.S. Senior Open. The run started with the 1973 U.S. Junior Amateur and was highlighted by the ’82 U.S. Open. He’s advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Publinks and to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

“I just love going to them,” he said. “The USGA does such an amazing job. Any USGA (championship) you make is incredibly special.”

On Monday, Nelson was in the first group to tee off on No. 10. After his first-hole double bogey, he carded four birdies and a three-putt bogey.

“The good news was (after starting with the double), I had 17 more holes left,” he said. “I pulled my cap down a little tighter and start grinding a little bit harder.”

Polk will be the first alternate from the Colorado Springs site, while Sean Forey of Morrison is alternate No. 2 after winning another three-man playoff.
 

U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying
At Par-71 Colorado Springs CC
ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
David Nelson, Reno, Nev. 34-36–70
Guy Mertz, Longmont 35-36–71
John Olive, Colorado Springs 36-35–71
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Robert Polk, Parker 35-36–71
Sean Forey, Morrison 36-36–72

For complete scores, CLICK HERE.

Sixty-three players, all 55 and older, will be competing for three national berths into the Senior Amateur, set for Aug. 26-31 at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis.

Gary Albrecht of CommonGround Golf Course and Robin Bradbury of Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, both 2016 U.S. Senior Am qualifiers, will be in the field in Colorado Springs.

Other qualifiers in Colorado from recent years — David Delich (2013 and ’14), Harry Johnson (2013 and ’14), Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Kent Moore (2015) and John Olive (2012), Thomas Roos (2015), Ted Warner (2013) and Kelly Crone (2012).

Also scheduled to play on Monday are three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Robert Polk and other former CGA senior champions Tom Musselman, Guy Mertz and Ken Sady.
 

It may not have been nearly of the magnitude of Arnold Palmer’s final-round comeback in the 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills, but similar to “The King”, Grant Olinger of Pomona rallied from seven shots behind going into the last 18 holes to claim the individual title in the 5A boys state high school tournament at Colorado Springs Country Club.

The senior shot a bogey-free round of 4-under-par 67 on Tuesday — the best score of the tournament by two strokes — to erase the big deficit and prevail by one shot.

“It’s not my lowest round — I’ve had a 65 before in a tournament,” Olinger said. “But this one feels a lot better. It’s my best round, I would say.”

Playing in the seventh-to-last group and starting almost an hour before the round 1 leaders, Olinger birdied the third, fifth, 11th and 17th holes while those under par after Monday slowly came back to the pack. By following up his first-day 76 with a 67, Olinger finished at 1-over-par 143 overall.

Even Olinger himself seemed a little taken aback by his comeback. After all, not only was he seven out of the lead, but he was in 15th place.

“I knew if I shot under par, I’d be top-10,” said Olinger (left and above), who placed 14th at state last year. “But I didn’t think I could get a chance (at the win) if I was that far back. I knew it would take something really low — one of my best rounds ever.”

Junior Isaac Petersilie of Coronado, who won the 4A state title last year, shot a 70 on Tuesday to check in one stroke behind Olinger. First-round leader Hunter Paugh (left) of Fort Collins held the top spot through 11 holes, but played his final seven in 3 over par to finish with a 77 and in third place, at 146 overall.

With Petersilie leading the way, Coronado claimed its first state team championship in golf, with the win coming in the school’s hometown. With daily totals of 226 and 220, CHS posted a 21-stroke team victory over co-runners-up Regis Jesuit and Lakewood. Regis had won the previous four 5A titles.

“It was really good because a lot of the guys came up clutch today,” Petersilie said. “That was really good to see. And also, it’s the first (state golf title) for Coronado.”

Joining Petersilie on the state championship team (left) were Wes Moran (151 total), Austin Burgess (151) and Luke Travins (158).

While Petersilie obviously relished winning the team championship, he would have loved to double up by claiming a second individual title. But two double bogeys in the final six holes on Monday proved difficult to overcome.

“I’m a little disappointed,” he said. “But kudos to (Olinger). He played real well and made a birdie on 17 coming in. And I was happy with the way I played. I was consistent all day. “

Indeed, Olinger’s 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th proved the difference between an outright win and a playoff.

So what turned Olinger around so much from Monday (76) to Tuesday (67)?

“I made a lot more putts, I hit a lot more greens, I hit a lot better shots,” he said. “And the swing felt a lot better today.

“I was a lot closer to the hole on every iron shot and wedge. That really helped. You really need to do that to shoot a good out here.”

It also didn’t hurt that Olinger was removed from the pressure and the spotlight of the final several groups during the final round. He admitted as much.

Olinger hopes to play college golf, though he isn’t sure where that might be. But it’s safe to say that Tuesday’s round — which produced his third individual victory this season — might translate into some opportunities.

But for now, he’s just relishing becoming a state champion.

“It feels really good,” he said. “It means a lot of hard work paid off. I worked real hard this summer and played in a lot of tournaments. Then this week I worked my butt off getting my swing dialed in.

“I really wanted to win. That’s why I was working so hard this year, because I felt like I had a chance to. That made it a little easier today.”
 

Rodriguez Overcomes Leaders, Valor Repeats as 4A Team Champ: Valor Christian placed all four of its players in the top six individually at the 4A state tournament at Walking Stick in Pueblo, but the top spot went to Taylor Rodriguez of Pueblo South on Tuesday.

Rodriguez fired his second consecutive 3-under-par 69 to overcome a two-stroke deficit entering the day and post a two-shot win.

Rodriguez bogeyed his final two holes on Tuesday, but he’d given himself a cushion by playing the previous 12 holes in 5 under.

Valor senior Jake Staiano, who will play his college golf at Colorado State, placed second on Tuesday after coming in fourth a year ago. After being the co-leader following round 1, Staiano carded a 1-over 73 on Tuesday for a 140 total.

University of Colorado-bound teammate Ross Macdonald, winner of the last two CGA Junior Stroke Play titles, came in third at 142 after a 70 on Tuesday.

Valor’s Coby Welch, who shared the top spot with Staiano after Monday, struggled to a 79 on Tuesday and shared fourth place with Braden Bentley of Mesa Ridge (71-75).

The fourth Valor player, Pierce Aichinger, who’s headed to CU, tied for sixth place at 147 with Steamboat Springs’ Britt Walton.

With an 8-under-par 424 team total, Valor Christian easily won its second consecutive 4A state team title, this one coming by 23 strokes over runner-up Pueblo South. Valor has claimed four state golf championships since 2009.
 

Dawson’s Kim Wins 3-Man Playoff in 3A: Yale Kim of the Dawson School in Lafayette parred the fourth playoff hole to win the 3A state high school title at Northeastern 18 in Sterling on Tuesday.

In a three-man playoff, first-round leader Trey Lambrecht of host Sterling bowed out with a triple bogey on the first extra hole. Then Kim earned the championship with a par on playoff hole No. 4 when Cooper Gould of Vail Christian made bogey.

Kim and Gould shot consecutive rounds of 1-over-par 73 for 2-over 146 totals. Lambrecht, who led by three after day 1, needed a birdie on his final hole of regulation to shoot a 78 and join the playoff.

Max Messner of Colorado Academy claimed fourth place after going 71-76. Cole Folwell of the Dawson School recorded his second top-five finish at state in two years by placing fifth, at 148.

Sterling, playing in its hometown, won its first state golf title. Its 459 total was five better than runner-up Kent Denver.

Scores: For scores from the three state tournaments, click on the following: 5A, 4A, 3A.

Two high school golfers who didn’t win an individual title all season are in good shape to make the 5A state meet their first victory.

The only two players to match or better par in Monday’s first round of the 5A tournament at Colorado Springs Country Club were certainly dark horses to make a run at the championship. Hunter Paugh of Fort Collins shot the round of his life — a 2-under-par 69 — to grab the lead. And fellow junior David Packer of Arapahoe matched his best score ever numerically with a 70.

“I’ve only won one tournament before — 7th-grade districts for middle school,” Paugh noted. “I’ve had a couple top-10s on the Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour. Those are pretty nice to have. I haven’t really won anything big. It’s nice to go into tomorrow hoping I might have a chance.”

On a day when play was suspended twice due to lightning — for a total of two hours — and which also featured hail and plenty of rain (left), only one other player shot below 74 in Monday’s opening round of the 36-hole event: Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction, who carded a 73. Olkowski was among four players who represented Colorado in the 2014 Junior America’s Cup.

Seven players shot 74, including 2013 4A state champion Isaac Petersilie of Coronado, who double bogeyed two of the last six holes; Legacy’s Li Chen, runner-up in the 5A tournament each of the last two years; and Fort Collins’ AJ Ott, a 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier.

In the team competition, Coronado, a program which moved up from 4A last season, leads the way with a 13-over-par 226 total. Highlands Ranch is next best, at 230, while Boulder is at 236. Regis Jesuit, winner of the last four 5A team titles, shares fourth place at 237 with Cherokee Trail.

Paugh, who like teammate Ott is a left-hander, birdied his first three holes of the day (10, 11 and 12), making putts of 6, 6 and 10 feet. Then he drained a 25-footer on No. 14 to go 4 under through five. He was still 4 under through 15, but he bogeyed his 16th and 17th holes before finishing his round — following the first weather delay — with a two-putt par.

Monday’s round was about six strokes better than Paugh’s season average and three better than his previous best high school tournament round.

“It’s just great,” he said. “I’ve been practicing a lot since regionals and I’ve been looking forward to this tournament. It’s nice to be able to play well.”

This marks Paugh’s third state appearance, with a 28th-place showing last year his best showing as a freshman or sophomore. But Tuesday will be his big opportunity.

“I hope to go out and do what I did today — play a solid round and we’ll see what happens,” he said. “I think I have a chance to win it. It’s going to come down to how everything goes tomorrow.”

Packer (left) could have had the outright lead — or at least a share of the top spot — but a double bogey on his final hole Monday dropped him back to 1 under par. His approach on the par-4 ended up well short of the green, and his pitch was still short, on the fringe. And he couldn’t get up and down from there.

“That’s a rough way to end it,” he said. “Nerves got to me, but you’ve got to look at it as a whole. You can’t (judge) it by one hole. I’m proud of the way I played today.”

Indeed, overall, Packer finished with an eagle, five birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey. He only posted seven pars. Packer’s eagle came on the 547-yard 15th hole (his sixth), where he hit a 5-iron in and sunk a 60-foot putt.

He had separate stretches in his round where he birdied three straight holes and where he went 4 under par in a four-hole run.

“I had the putter rolling really well and I hit a lot of fairways,” said Packer, who won an RMJGT event at Fort Carson in June. “I’ve got to work on finishing it for sure, but I’m excited for tomorrow. I feel good about my chances.”

Valor Posts 10 Under Par to Build Big Lead in 4A: The Valor Christian boys golfers once again lived up to their billing on Monday by posting an impressive 10-under-par 206 team total and putting all four of their players into the top six individually in the 4A state tournament at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo.

The defending 4A team champions built a 14-stroke advantage over Pueblo South in their bid for four state titles since 2009.

Senior Jake Staiano, who made the round of 64 at the 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur, and junior teammate Coby Welch matched 5-under-par 67s and share the individual lead in 4A. Meanwhile, Valor’s other two players, seniors Ross Macdonald and Pierce Aichinger, are tied for sixth place at 72 with 2013 runner-up Wilson Belk of Cheyenne Mountain.

Staiano has verbally committed to Colorado State, while Macdonald and Aichinger are headed to the University of Colorado.

Staiano made six birdies and one bogey on Monday, while Welch recorded an eagle, four birdies and a bogey.

Taylor Rodriguez of Pueblo South holds down third place at 69, while Braden Bentley of Mesa Ridge and Britt Walton of Steamboat Springs are tied for fourth at 71.

Lambrecht, Sterling Feeling Right at Home in 3A: Trey Lambrecht of Sterling took advantage of having the 3A state tournament in his hometown by opening up a three-stroke lead at the halfway point of the event at Northeastern 18.

Lambrecht fired a 4-under-par 68, making an eagle, five birdies and three bogeys in the process. He played the four holes starting on No. 13 in 5 under par.

Sam Taylor of Peak to Peak and Max Messner of Colorado Academy share second place at 71. Cole Folwell of the Dawson School, who finished third at state last year, checked in at even-par 72 despite a 7 and a 6 on his card.

Host Sterling leads the way in the team standings, posting a 6-over-par 222. Defending champion Dawson, with just three qualifiers, sits in second place at 228.

Scores: For scores from the three state tournaments, click on the following: 5A, 4A, 3A.