Hunter Paugh and AJ Ott will play their final round of high school golf on Tuesday, and the opportunity couldn’t be more ideal. The two Fort Collins High School seniors, both left-handers, not only are on the top of the leaderboard in the 5A state tournament, but they’re doing it in their hometown of Fort Collins. In fact, Paugh is closing out his prep career at the course where he and his family are members, Fort Collins Country Club.

Paugh (left), who finished third individually at last year’s state tournament, used his home-course advantage to shoot the lowest score of his life, a 4-under-par 67, in Monday’s first round of the 5A meet.

“It was a great day,” said Paugh, who has verbally committed to play college golf at the University of South Dakota. “I’ve been looking forward to this since last year, when I finished third. It’s my home course. It was a great day for golf. It was fun to hit the ball well and to play well.”

His teammate, Ott, played his back nine in 3 under par Monday to share second place, four behind Paugh. While he, like Paugh, is facing a little additional pressure this week while competing at home, he’s embracing the opportunity.

“It’s fun,” said Ott, who is likely to record his fourth top-10 finish at state on Tuesday. “I think it’s good for the town and good for our school.”

Ott (left) is one of four players who shot 71 and share second place four back of Paugh. Also at even-par are Griffin Barela of Lakewood, Austin Hardman of Mountain Vista and Regis Jesuit’s Andrew McCormick, the runner-up in the 2015 CGA Junior Match Play.

Paugh closed his round with three consecutive birdies — from 15, 8 and 2 feet — to give him five for the day, while carding one bogey.

“I knew it was there. I just had to do what I did, I guess,” said Paugh, winner of a Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour event shis summer. “There’s been some pressure because it’s my home course. I’m expected to play well. But I really didn’t let that get to me. I’m just going out to have some fun. It’s my last high school tournament, so enjoy it.”

As for Ott, it’s certainly no surprise to find him near the top of the leaderboard. This year, he finished third in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, second in a playoff at the CGA Junior Stroke Play, 13th at the Big “I” National Championship and 16th at the Junior America’s Cup. He’s verbally committed to Colorado State University.

On Monday, Ott had a rough start, double-bogeying the fourth hole en route to a 3-over-par 38 on the front nine. But he birdied 10, 11, 12 and 18 on the back — offset by a bogey on 17 — to fire a 33 on his incoming half.

“I just had to stay patient because I don’t think anybody is going to make a ton of putts out here,” he said. “I got off to a bad start, but I made a few coming in on the back side, which felt good. I think some of my experience in big tournaments this summer has helped me.”

Though two teammates will be among those who will battle it out for the 5A individual title on Tuesday, they’re accustomed to competing against one another.

“We’ve always competed since we were little since we’ve been in the same schools,” Paugh said. “It’s really been him and I all four years (at Fort Collins HS) and it’s always been a little rivalry. It’s always been fun, and it will be fun tomorrow.”

With Fort Collins not having the third player at state needed to compete as a team, the team competition is very tight after round 1. Lakewood and Regis Jesuit are tied for the lead at 6-over-par 219, with Fort Collins-based Fossil Ridge (221) and defending champion Coronado (223) within four of the top spot, and Mountain Vista (226) and Heritage (227) also well within striking distance.

Valor’s Lee Closes Strong to Fire 67 at 4A Tournament: Two Valor Christian teammates were the two players who broke par Monday in the 4A state tournament at the Fox Hill Club in Longmont.

Philip Lee shot a 3-under-par 67, while teammate Tim Amundson fired a 69.

Windsor’s Cole Krantz, the 2015 Colorado PGA Junior Championship winner, and Silver Creek’s Jackson Solem, who’s playing in his hometown of Longmont, matched rounds of 70.

Another Valor player, 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier Coby Welch, posted a 71.

Lee made six birdies on Monday, including on four of his last six holes.

Valor, winner of the last two 4A state team titles, holds an 18-stroke lead over Evergreen after shooting a 3-under-par 207 in round 1.

Peak to Peak’s Taylor, Datta Set Standard at 3A Meet: Sam Taylor and Nishant Datta, teammates at Peak to Peak, shot even-par 72s to share the lead after the first round of the 3A state tournament at Eagle Ranch Golf Course in Eagle.

The next-best players going into Tuesday’s final round are Kent Denver’s Oliver Jack and Basalt’s Linc Kleager, who carded 75s.

Defending champion Yale Kim of Dawson opened with a 79.

After posting a 6-over-par 222 total, Peak to Peak holds a 10-stroke advantage over Kent Denver in the team competition.
 

SCORING: For scores from the state tournaments, click on the following: 3A, 4A, 5A

In a boys high school golf season that’s already featured its share of superlatives, three tournaments remain to add some more.

Among the things we’ve seen in the last month and a half:

— Sophomore Oliver Jack from Kent Denver shot a stellar 9-under-par 63 at The Pinery Country Club in a Metro League tournament. That broke the school record of 64 posted by Kevin Stadler, who last year won an event on the PGA Tour.

— A couple of weeks later at a Jeffco 4A League event at Deer Creek Golf Club, Valor Christian senior Coby Welch did that one better by firing a 10-under-par 62 for his school’s record. With Welch leading the way, Valor recorded a team total of 22 under par for its top four golfers.

Like the PGA Tour says in a tagline about its players, “These Guys are Good.”

They’ll get to prove that one more time this season as this week’s regional state-qualifying tournament set the fields for the 5A, 4A and 3A state tournaments that are scheduled for Oct. 5-6. The 5A meet will be played at Fort Collins Country Club, the 4A at the Fox Hill Club in Longmont, and the 3A at Eagle Ranch Golf Course in Eagle. Eighty-four golfers will compete in each event, culminating a two-month-long season.

Here are some of the 5A state storylines:

— Two of the state qualifiers are in Pebble Beach, Calif., this weekend competing in the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, a Champions Tour event that will be nationally televised Friday through Sunday (Sept. 25-27). Both Davis Bryant of Eaglecrest and Brock Dowdy of Denver East are paired with Tour professionals who are also from Colorado — Bryant with Mark Wiebe and Dowdy with Craig Stadler. Bryant and Gowdy represent First Tee chapters in Colorado — Bryant The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch and Dowdy The First Tee of Denver.

Before heading out to Pebble Beach, Bryant shot a 78 at regionals to advance to state, while Dowdy carded a 79 at the same course, Lone Tree Golf Club. Bryant qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur this year.

— AJ Ott (pictured above) of Fort Collins, who will play his college golf at Colorado State, is a good bet for four consecutive top-10 finishes at state, having gone sixth, sixth and 10th his first three years and now wrapping up his high school career at a state meet in his hometown. Ott, who placed third in this year’s AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior and second in a playoff at the CGA Junior Stroke Play, carded a 70 in the Central Regional at Lone Tree. Ott finished 13th this year at the Big “I” National Championship and 16th at the Junior America’s Cup.

— Isaac Petersilie of Coronado has had an outstanding run at state the past two years, winning the 4A title in 2013 and finishing runner-up in 5A last year while Coronado claimed the team championship. Petersilie, who’s committed to the University of Denver, posted a 78 in the Southern Regional at Colorado Springs Country Club. Earlier this year, he won the CGA Junior Stroke Play.

— Andrew McCormick of Regis Jesuit tied Arapahoe’s David Packer for the lowest round of anyone at a regional tournament — a 68. This year, McCormick finished runner-up in the CGA Junior Match Play.

— Nick Leibold of Heritage earlier this year won a prestigious national honor for leadership as the male recipient of the USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award. The award recognizes one male and one female junior golfer who demonstrate leadership, character and community service through their involvement with the Leadership Links program, a joint initiative founded by the USGA and AJGA to further develop junior golfers through volunteerism. Leibold advanced to the state meet with a 79 at the Northern Regional at Broadlands Golf Course.

— Regis Jesuit had its string of four consecutive 5A state titles snapped last year by Coronado, to which the Raiders finished runner-up. Regis is back with a four-man team this year. Coronado will return with the top three players from last year’s championship team: Petersilie, Austin Burgess and Wes Moran.

As for the 4A state meet:

— Welch (left), the senior from Valor Christian who shot 62 earlier this month, has had a strong year, qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur, finishing seventh at the Junior America’s Cup and winning the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship. Welch, who placed fourth at the 4A state tournament last year, has verbally committed to the University of Northern Colorado. He shot a 74 at the 4A Metro Regional at Spring Valley to advance to state.

— As a team, Valor will be shooting for its third consecutive 4A state title and its fifth since 2009.

— Jackson Solem of Silver Creek won the 4A Northern Regional at Quail Dunes with a 73. Solem finished third earlier this year in both the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior and the CGA Junior Stroke Play. Meanwhile, Silver Creek teams have won eight consecutive regional tournaments. This time at state, the Raptors will be competing in their hometown of Longmont.

— Cole Krantz of Windsor, winner of the 2015 Colorado PGA Junior Championship, qualified for state with a 76 at the 4A Northern Regional at Quail Dunes.

And in the 3A tournament:

— Yale Kim from the Dawson School (3A) will be the only 2014 individual state champion back to defend his title as Pomona’s Grant Olinger (5A) and Pueblo South’s Taylor Rodriguez (4A) both graduated earlier this year. Kim shot a 74 at the 3A Northern Regional at Highland Meadows to punch his ticket to state.

— Sterling, the 2014 3A state team champion, will defend its title with a three-man contingent: Brayden Iambrecht, Bradon Baxter and Riley Schaefer.

— Jack, who shot that 63 at The Pinery earlier this season, fired a 70 at CommonGround to win the 3A Northern Regional title. He will lead the team from Kent Denver, which won an unprecedented seven straight Colorado state high school championships from 2006-12.

For Monday tee times for the three state tounaments, CLICK HERE.

Here’s a rundown on the teams and individuals that won regional state-qualifying tournaments this week:

5A Southern at Colorado Springs CC — Individual: David Packer, Arapahoe, 68. Team: Arapahoe 221.

5A Central at Lone Tree GC — Individual: Andrew McCormick, Regis Jesuit, 68. Team: Regis 215.

5A Northern at Broadlands GC — Individual: (tie) Daniel Pearson, Fairview, 73; Taron Ford, Prairie View, 73; and Reese Leiker, Heritage, 73. Team: (tie) Fossil Ridge and Heritage 228.

5A Western at Bookcliff CC — Individual: (tie) Austin Hardman, Mountain Vista, 71 and Danny Gallant, Monarch, 71. Team: (tie) Mountain Vista and Lakewood 223.

4A Southern at Shining Mountain GC — Individual: Matthew Casias, Pueblo South, 73. Team: (tie) Discovery Canyon and Pueblo West 238.

4A Metro at Spring Valley GC — Individual: Lenny Urbas, Evergreen, 73. Team: Valor Christian 225.

4A Northern at Quail Dunes — Individual: Jackson Solem, Silver Creek 73. Team: Silver Creek 233.

4A Western at Haymaker GC — Individual: Britt Walton, Steamboat Springs 71. Team: Durango (won playoff) and Steamboat Springs 223.

3A Southern at Hollydot — Individual: Hayden Wehe, Alamosa 72. Team: Alamosa 232.

3A Metro at CommonGround GC — Individual: Oliver Jack, Kent Denver, 70. Team: Kent Denver 223.

3A Northern at Highland Meadows GC — Individual: Harrison Turner, Resurrection Christian, 69. Team: Resurrection Christian 224.

3A Western at Steamboat Springs GC — Individual: Dominic Lanese, Aspen, 76. Team: Aspen 244.

Spencer Painton placed a nice, big beautiful bow on top of his high school golf career Tuesday at Murphy Creek Golf Course.

In his final high school tournament, the senior led Regis Jesuit to its fourth consecutive 5A state team title, a feat accomplished in Colorado by only two other programs in the open or large-school classification: Colorado Springs (four straight, 1948-51) and ThunderRidge (six in a row, 2001-06).

And Painton (pictured fist-pumping after making a birdie) doubled his fun by claiming the individual 5A championship.

“I’m happy to contribute to hopefully (Regis eventually winning) six in a row,” he said. “I wish I could come back again next year, but I went out with a bang. That’s all I can do.”

Indeed, between finishing Monday’s round of 66 with six straight birdies, then pulling away on Tuesday to earn the state title, it doesn’t get much better.

“This means a lot to me, especially because since freshman year it’s been one of my goals to win state as an individual,” said Painton, who will play college golf at the University of Kansas for former Colorado State coach Jamie Bermel. “All the hard work has paid off.

“The title of state champion never leaves you. I’m very, very proud of this one.”

Painton, who reached the round of 64 at the 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur, shot an even-par 72 Tuesday despite the wind wreaking havoc on the back nine. That left him with a 6-under-par 138 total.

Regis teammate Jake Kelley, also a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier this year, tied for second place — two shots behind Painton — with Legacy’s Li Chen, who was runner-up for the second straight year. Kelley (pictured at left) closed with a 69, while Chen posted a 73.

Regis cruised to the team title — its sixth overall — finishing with an impressive 7-under-par 425 total for two rounds. That was 23 strokes better than runner-up Ralston Valley.

“It’s amazing to watch these guys perform,” Regis coach Craig Rogers said of his team.

Chen, who didn’t win a high school tournament this season, was even with Painton through six holes Tuesday thanks to standing 2 under par for the day at that time.

But Painton kicked it into high gear with three consecutive birdies beginning on hole No. 6, and Chen finished the front nine with two straight bogeys, the first coming after hitting his tee shot in the water on the par-3 eighth.

So in the course of three holes (7-9), Painton went from all square with Chen to four ahead.

“My mindset was, I was hitting a lot of great shots,” Painton said. “It was only a matter of time before I had a stretch like that. I’m glad it came where it did.”

And he never relinquished that lead on the back nine despite winds that he said were “absolutely brutal.”

As for Chen (pictured at left), the junior said, “I’m a little disappointed. I could play much better (than I did) today. I didn’t play as well as yesterday (67). I shot an (over par) number, not an (under-par) number. The first day was great for me, the second day could be better. That’s all I can say about it.”

From Painton’s perspective, it seemed only appropriate that he end his high school golf career with team and individual titles at Murphy Creek, the course where he recently won a regional championship and where a few years ago he broke 70 for the first time.

“This course has always had a special place in my heart,” said Painton, who tied Chen for second place at state last year. “I guess it’s an even bigger portion now.”

Coronado’s Petersilie Prevails in 4A at Hiwan: On a day in which high scores were the norm, Coronado’s Isaac Petersilie earned the 4A state title at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen.

Petersilie edged Wilson Belk of Cheyenne Mountain by one stroke, with both shooting 4-over-par 74s on Tuesday. Each player bogeyed two of his final three holes. Petersilie posted a 4-over 144 total.

Glenn Workman of Pueblo West placed third at 147 after a 77 Tuesday. First-round leader Andrew Rademacher-Howe of Silver Creek struggled to an 80, leaving him in fifth place at 149.

Valor Christian rallied to win its third 4A team title since 2009. Valor bested Silver Creek by three strokes.

Basalt’s Rohrbaugh Finishes Strong to Claim 3A Crown: Tristan Rohrbaugh of Basalt, the son of HealthOne Colorado Senior Open champion Doug Rohrbaugh, came from behind in the final round to win the 3A state championship at Pueblo Country Club.

Rohrbaugh shot a 1-under-par 70 on Tuesday to finish at 1-under 141 overall, good for a four-stroke victory.

Behrod Keshtavar of Peak to Peak took second after closing with a 73. First-round co-leaders Cole Folwell and Cameron Connor of Alexander Dawson placed third and fourth, respectively.

In the team competition, Alexander Dawson ended Kent Denver’s record run of seven consecutive state titles. With a 445 total, Dawson was 26 strokes better than Peak to Peak and Lutheran. It was Dawson’s first state team championship in golf.

For scores, click on: 5A, 4A, 3A.
 

Colorado has produced many outstanding junior golfers over the years — players such as Hale Irwin, Bob Byman, Brandt Jobe, Brett Dean and Tom Glissmeyer, among others — but Wyndham Clark can rightfully make a case that he belongs among the best of the best.

Clark (pictured at left) added to his resume on Tuesday with a dominating performance in becoming one of just 10 players in Colorado history to win two boys state high school titles. Oh, and by the way, to claim the second Class 4A championship, all he did was shoot 64-64 for a 16-under-par 128 total at Pelican Lakes Golf Club in Windsor. In all likelihood, that’s the best score in Colorado state high school tournament history, and it resulted in an eight-stroke victory.

“The (championship in 2009) was really big for me because it was my first,” said Clark, a senior at Valor Christian who also finished runner-up in two state high school tournaments. “This one is probably bigger because I kind of made a statement and I played really good golf. It was really nice to go out with a bang.”

Clark wasn’t the only newcomer to the two-time state high school champion club on Tuesday as Kent Denver junior Ethan Freeman won the Class 3A tournament in Gunnison.

The other two-time champs are Steve Ziegler of Legacy (2005 and 2006 in Class 5A); Glissmeyer of Cheyenne Mountain (2003 and 2004 in Class 4A); Jay Osmon of Alamosa (1992 and 1994); Dean of Evergreen (1984 and 1986); Jeff Armstrong of Pueblo Centennial (1974 and 1975); Bob Haldeen of Sterling (1960 and 1961); Ron Sevier of Denver South (1953 and 1954); and Frank Van Meter of Denver East (1947 and 1948).

No Colorado boys player has won three or more state high school titles.

So how does Clark stack up against the best junior players Colorado has produced, with his CGA Stroke Play Championship at age 16 last year, his two state high school titles, qualifying for two U.S. Amateurs, and a myriad of other accomplishments?

Coincidentally, one of the spectators at Pelican Lakes on Tuesday can give a little perspective, having coached Byman in high school at Fairview, and in the same town as Irwin. All told, George Hoos coached high school golf in Colorado from 1960 to 1990.

Asked the best junior players he’s seen in the state, Hoos gives the nod to Byman (Fairview), Irwin (Boulder) and Bill Loeffler (Cherry Creek). Each won one state high school title, but Byman claimed a U.S. Junior Amateur title in addition to three CGA Stroke Play Championships by age 18. Irwin also won three CGA Stroke Plays — albeit at a slightly older age — before he embarked on a professional career in which he’s earned three U.S. Open titles. And Loeffler was starting to make his mark in a career which now includes three Colorado Open victories, a U.S. Mid-Amateur title and two PGA of America national tournament wins.

But Hoos is certainly duly impressed with Clark.

“He’s a Byman type, and probably a better physical specimen,” Hoos said. “I think Bob maybe had a little more moxie. But this (Clark) kid is the real deal. He’s flat good.”

How good was Clark at the state tournament this week? The Oklahoma State-bound golfer went bogey-free over 36 holes — something he said he’s never done before in back-to-back tournament rounds. On Tuesday, Clark made an eagle and six birdies, one of which came when he holed a bunker shot on No. 9.

“How good is (64-64), and winning by eight,” said PGA instructor Erik Billinger, who has been working with Clark on his game since the spring. “It’s quite a statement. He deserves it. He puts a lot of work in, a lot of hours in, and sacrifices a lot. It’s his heart and soul. And now he’s getting rewarded for it.”

Silver Creek junior Jack Adolfson (pictured at left, 68-68–136) finished eight strokes behind Clark to place second on Tuesday. His teammate, Dylan Wonnacott, also a junior, posted rounds of 68-69–137 for third place.

“I played well and I really can’t complain,” Adolfson said. “Wyndham is just a great player. I’m not disappointed that I finished second.”

Though Clark shot 64-64, he had even bigger things in mind at Pelican Lakes.

“I really wanted to shoot 59,” said Clark, who’s ranked among the top 20 junior players in the U.S. according to the AJGA. “I know I was far away from it each day — five shots — but at the same time it was also really close because I turned at 5 and 6 under each day. I had so many (birdie) chances today.”

Silver Creek, located in Longmont, won its first boys golf state title, unseating two-time defending champion Valor Christian, which finished in second place, five shots behind. Silver Creek (pictured celebrating at left) posted a stellar 12-under-par 420 team total for two days.

“I’ve got tears welling up right now I’m so happy for the boys,” Raptors coach Mike Maydew said after Tuesday’s round. “They beat a great team and they played great to do it. It’s fantastic.”

Winning a state title has been a rallying point for Silver Creek all season.

“We’ve been playing good all year, and that was our whole goal — just dethrone Valor,” Adolfson said. “We were really motivated to beat them.”

Kent Denver’s Freeman Doubles Up in Class 3A: Kent Denver junior Ethan Freeman birdied the final three holes Tuesday to win his second consecutive Class 3A state tournament, this one at Dos Rios Golf Club in Gunnison.

Freeman came into the final hole one stroke behind Cole Nygren of Alexander Dawson, but Nygren closed with a bogey and Freeman with a birdie to account for a two-stroke swing. Freeman shot a 5-under-par 66 Tuesday for a  6-under 136 total, while Nygren carded a second-round 70 to end up at 137. Jake Ice of Eaton (70-71–141) was third.

Freeman became the 10th two-time Colorado boys state high school champion. Wyndham Clark of Valor Christian also claimed his second state title on Tuesday, marking the first time the feat has happened twice in the same day. (See above for all the two-time winners.)

Meanwhile, Freeman’s Kent Denver squad won its sixth consecutive state title, matching a Colorado record set by Thunder Ridge (2001-2006 in Class 5A). Kent Denver claimed 4A championships in 2006 and 2007, and has ruled in 3A every year since that classification was created in 2008.

This time around, Kent’s 428 total was 16 strokes better than second-place Aspen.

Lundquist, Regis Reign in Class 5A: Gus Lundquist of Regis parred his final 13 holes Tuesday to win the Class 5A state title by one stroke at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction.

With 18 players finishing within six strokes of Lundquist, his even-par 71 Tuesday was good for a 2-over 144 total and a one-shot victory a year after he finished second at state. Brandon Gayeski of Mountain Range (69-76–145) came in second after bogeying his last two holes Tuesday. Kyle Strain of Brighton (74-72–146) and Palmer Giro of Fort Collins (71-75–146) tied for third.

Regis won its second consecutive 5A state team title by prevailing in a one-hole playoff against Cherry Creek. Both teams finished with 19-over-par 445 team titles.

For scores, click on the following: 5A, 4A, 3A.

All three state tourneys will take place Monday and Tuesday (Oct. 3-4), albeit at sites across Colorado. For the first time since 2000, two of the meets will be held on the Western Slope in the same year — Class 5A at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction and 3A at Dos Rios Golf Club in Gunnison. The 4A tournament is set for Pelican Lakes Golf Club in Windsor.

Eighty-four players will compete at each site.

Among the feats that could be reached this year:

— With a victory in the 4A meet, Valor Christian’s Wyndham Clark (pictured) could say that no one in Colorado high school golf history has produced better results at the state meet over a four-year career. Clark, a senior who has verbally committed to play college golf for the storied Oklahoma State program, has already finished first once and second twice at the state tournament.

A victory on Tuesday would make Clark the ninth player in Colorado golf history to have won two boys state high school titles. The others are Steve Ziegler of Legacy (2005 and 2006 in Class 5A); Tom Glissmeyer of Cheyenne Mountain (2003 and 2004 in Class 4A); Jay Osmon of Alamosa (1992 and 1994); Brett Dean of Evergreen (1984 and 1986); Jeff Armstrong of Pueblo Centennial (1974 and 1975); Bob Haldeen of Sterling (1960 and 1961); Ron Sevier of Denver South (1953 and 1954); and Frank Van Meter of Denver East (1947 and 1948).

No player has ever won three or four boys Colorado high school titles.

Clark, who is the 16th-best junior player in the country according to the AJGA Polo Rankings, posted the lowest regional qualifying score of any classification, a 67 at Foothills Golf Course. He’s qualified for the U.S. Amateur each of the last two years, and in 2010 he became the youngest winner of the CGA Stroke Play Championship since 1971.

— Two other players likewise have opportunities to win their second state high school championship — Kent Denver junior Ethan Freeman, who claimed the 3A title last year after placing fourth in 2009, and Alexander Dawson senior Peter Hassan, who was victorious in 3A in 2009 before finishing 23rd last season.

Freeman, who won one of the regional qualifying tournaments, figures to be the player to beat in the 3A championship.

Should Clark and either Freeman or Hassan win, it would mark the first time two two-time champions have been crowned in the same year.

— Meanwhile, if Kent Denver claims the 3A state title on Tuesday, the Sun Devils would match the longest streak of consecutive state titles in Colorado boys golf history. That record is now held by ThunderRidge, which won six straight 5A state titles from 2001 through 2006.

Kent Denver claimed 4A championships in 2006 and 2007, then has won every 3A title since the classification was created in 2008.

Here are some brief previews of each of the three state high school tournaments:

Class 5A at Bookcliff Country Club in Grant Junction

Top 10 Returnees from 2010 State Tournament — Gus Lundquist of Regis (second), Cole Cunningham of Regis (third), Palmer Giro of Fort Collins (fifth), Drew Vance of Dakota Ridge (fifth), Blake Basham of Highlands Ranch (eighth).

Shot 70 or Lower in Regional Qualifying — Cole Cunningham of Regis, 68 at CommonGround; Ryan Schmitz of Regis, 68 at CommonGround; Gus Lundquist of Regis, 68 at CommonGround; Blake Basham, Highlands Ranch, 70 at Colorado Springs CC.

Notable — Regis, the defending champion in Class 5A, recently posted what is certainly one of the lowest scores in regional qualifying tournament history, a 9-under-par 204 total for its top three players at CommonGround Golf Course. And the team’s fourth score, which was thrown out, was a very respectable 72. Beside the aforementioned players, one of the top golfers in the field is Highlands Ranch’s Connor Klein, who qualified for the 2011 U.S. Junior Amateur.

Class 4A at Pelican Lakes Golf Club in Windsor

Top 10 Returnees from 2010 State Tournament — Wyndham Clark of Valor Christian (second); Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo South (fifth); Dominick Bregar of Pueblo South (seventh); Chris Aiken of Montezuma-Cortez (seventh).

Shot 70 or Lower in Regional Qualifying — Wyndham Clark of Valor Christian, 67 at Foothills; Jake Staiano of Valor Christian, 69 at Foothills; Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo South, 70 at Pueblo CC.

Notable — Valor Christian, which has won the last two 4A state titles, appears ready to defend its team championships, having shot 209 for three players in the regional tournament at Foothills.

Class 3A at Dos Rios Golf Club in Gunnison

Top 10 Returnees from 2010 State Tournament — Ethan Freeman of Kent Denver (won); Jesse Beetham of Aspen (second); Jake Ice of Eaton (fifth); Carson Jones of Alexander Dawson (10th); Adam Griffith of Peak to Peak (10th)

Shot 70 or Lower in Regional Qualifying — Tyler Harrison of Rye, 69 at Hollydot.

Notable — Cole Nygren, an Alexander Dawson teammate of 2009 state champion Peter Hassan, won the prestigious AJGA Aspen Junior Classic title in June.

For state tournament pairings, click on the following: 5A, 4A, 3A.