Bob Austin helped put the Cherry Creek boys golf team in the record books, and he had a hand in removing the Bruins as well.

Austin played on two of Creek’s state title-winning teams — in 1970 and ’71 — as the Bruins went on to set the record for the most boys golf state team titles in Colorado, with eight.

But on Tuesday in the 3A state meet at Saddle Rock Golf Course in Aurora, with Austin serving as the head coach of the host Kent Denver squad, the Sun Devils took sole possession of the aforementioned record, moving out of a tie with Cherry Creek.

Kent Denver (pictured celebrating) has now won state crowns nine times since 1999, and Austin has been the coach for eight of those nine — two in Class 4A and six in 3A. (With its sixth win in the last seven years in 5A on Tuesday, Regis Jesuit joined Creek with eight state championships.)

And to double the fun for Kent on Tuesday, Sun Devils junior Oliver Jack (left) won a playoff to claim the 3A individual championship.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Austin said. “I’m really choked up. I really wanted this for these kids. We finished second the last two years. I wanted to get over that hump. The kids, I couldn’t be prouder of them. They played awesome. It was really fun. This might be the sweetest (state title) of all.”

And that was just one of the three state tournaments that concluded on Tuesday around the state. The others were just as notable:

— In the 4A meet at River Valley Ranch Golf Club in Carbondale, the individual title also was settled in a playoff, this one denying defending champion Jackson Solem of Silver Creek from becoming just the fifth two-time Colorado boys state high school champion since 1995. The first-round leader, junior Luke Trujillo of Discovery Canyon, parred the second playoff hole to defeat Solem and claim the title. And Trujillo helped Discovery Canyon win a boys state golf team championship for the first time. Three-time defending champ Valor Christian was third.

— In the 5A tournament at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction, senior Kyle Pearson of Highlands Ranch put on a clinic as rounds of 66-67 gave him a 9-under-par 133 total and a six-stroke victory over Davis Bryant of Eaglecrest. Moreover, Pearson made a hole-in-one Tuesday en route to the title, acing the 136-yard 15th hole with a gap wedge. And, as noted earlier, Regis made it six 5A team titles in seven years. And perhaps the most remarkable thing about that is that each of the last two victories have come by one-stroke margins.

Back at 3A, the two players who finished tied for second in the state tournament last year were the ones in a playoff on Tuesday: Jack and Ivan Richmond of Estes Park. Richmond birdied the 17th hole in regulation to pull even, and both players bogeyed No. 18, with Jack three-putting.

But on the par-5 556-yard playoff hole, Jack hit his drive 30 yards beyond where his ball traveled on the same hole earlier Tuesday, and he had just a 7-iron for his approach into the green. Richmond, meanwhile, pulled his tee shot into a hazard and needed four shots to get to the front fringe. He three-putted from there for a double bogey. Jack, meanwhile, sank a 4-foot birdie for the victory.

“This means a lot,” said Jack, a 16-year-old who has already verbally committed to play his college golf at the University of Colorado. “A state championship is something I always wanted to win. Words can’t describe the feeling. Nothing means more to me than winning this. And it’s great for the team (too).”

Richmond (left), meanwhile, was thinking of what might have been.

“Obviously the tee shot (in the playoff) wasn’t the greatest,” he said. “Nerves and all that stuff were just going through my brain. It was bad.

“Obviously I wanted to win here. It would have been pretty special.”

Jack shot an even-par 72 on Tuesday — not counting his playoff birdie — and finished at even-par 144. Richmond closed with a 71 to get to that same total.

“I was really excited for Oliver,” Austin said. “I thought Oliver was the best player coming in, and I told him that. And I thought if we were going to win, the best player needs to win individually — and he did. He’s such an unbelievable talent and such a great kid

“(Winning both titles) was a huge thrill. The last two hours, I’m probably more nervous than I’ve ever been in my life.”

Joining Jack in the top 10 individually for Kent Denver on Tuesday were sophomore Jackson Klutznick (148, fourth place) and freshman Ben Zimmerman (153, 10th place). Rounding out the Sun Devil team was senior Jack Friedman (162, 25th place).

Placing third individually on Tuesday was Peak to Peak’s Ethan Tartaglia, who posted a 72 for a 146 total. Yale Kim of the Dawson School, the 2014 champion, shared fourth place with Klutznick at 148.

Kent Denver, which finished at 13-over-par 445, had a battle to win its eighth team title since 2006. Defending champion Peak to Peak took second place at 448.

In the 5A tournament, the team race was even closer as Regis Jesuit’s 10-over-par 436 total just edged Highlands Ranch by one.

Individually, Pearson was the only player to post two rounds in the 60s at Bookcliff. Besides his hole-in-one eagle, he made four birdies and two bogeys on Tuesday. For the two days, he racked up 10 birdies plus the eagle.

Bryant, a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier last year, was very much in contention through 10 holes Tuesday as he had made a birdie and nine pars and stood 6 under overall. But he went 3 over par the rest of the way, shot 73, and had to settle for runner-up with a 3-under 139 total.

First-round leader Nick Caldwell of Rock Canyon was the only other player to finish under-par for two rounds, in his case at 140, good for third place. He made an eagle and a birdie on Tuesday, but also seven bogeys in a round of 75.

In 4A, Solem rallied from four behind going into the day to force a playoff in his bid for two straight individual championships. But after both players parred the first extra hole, Trujillo made a par on the second playoff hole to prevail as Solem missed his 6-foot par attempt. Both players finished at 4-under-par 140 overall, with Solem closing with a bogey-free 69 (though his blemish-free day ended on the second playoff hole) and Trujillo a 73.

Trujillo led by three strokes with four holes left in regulation, but a double bogey on 15 and a bogey on 18 forced the playoff.

Cole Krantz of Windsor was also in the thick of the title race, but back-to-back bogeys on 15 and 16 led to a third-place finish, one out of the playoff. Krantz played his first seven holes in 4 under par on Tuesday, making an eagle on the 325-yard seventh hole.

Discovery Canyon ran away with the 4A team title. Its 6-over-par 438 total was 15 strokes better than runner-up Montrose.

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

There was no endorsement deal involved, but shortly after winning the individual title at the 5A girls state high school tournament, Mary Weinstein noted that she was going to Disney World.

After an eventful Monday and Tuesday, she’d earned it.

On Monday, Weinstein built a four-stroke lead in tough weather conditions at CommonGround Golf Course. That night, she graduated from Regis Jesuit High School. Then on Tuesday, she won the individual championship by four strokes despite four-putting the 18th green.

“It feels great,” she said, noting that the Disney trip will be followed by a cruise with her family. “I have not done well at state my freshman, sophomore or junior years, so I really wanted to go out with a bang, and I feel like I did that today.”

And the same can be said for Grandview, which ended Regis Jesuit’s two-year reign as 5A team champion. In a team competition that went down to the last group at the last hole, the Wolves (pictured below) edged Regis by two strokes to earn their first state championship in girls golf.

Had Weinstein two-putted from long distance on the 18th hole and made birdie, the teams would have tied, but Grandview prevailed in regulation with an 8-over-par 224 score on Tuesday and a two-day total of 30-over 462.

With freshman Amy Chitkoksoong, the 2015 CWGA Junior Match Play champion, finishing second individually and senior Morgan Sahm placing third for the second straight year, they set the tone for the Wolves, who rallied from an eight-stroke deficit after round 1. Also on the state-title winning squad were Caitlin O’Donnell (30th) and Ryan Morgan (51st). (Sahm, in blue, and Weinstein are pictured at top chatting on the 18th green after finishing their high school careers.)

“It’s amazing,” said Sahm, the 2015 CJGA Tournament of Champions winner and a University of Northern Colorado signee. “I’m so proud of my team. It’s a great way to end my senior year. I couldn’t have asked for anything else. I’m so happy for Mary winning individually. I’ve grown up playing with her, so I’m very proud of her. But to win as a team really means a lot to me. I’m very happy.”

Added Chitkoksoong, who birdied the last hole to give Grandview the lead: “It feels really great, to be honest. We were neck and neck with Regis, and just being able to push through those last holes really made a difference.”

While the team race went right down to the wire, the individual competition was never particularly close on Tuesday. Weinstein (left), the 2015 CWGA Junior Player of the Year and 2015 CWGA Junior Stroke Play champ, left little doubt with a 3-under-par 69 in the final round, giving her a two-day total of 4-under 140. And that was despite the four-putt on her final hole.

Weinstein, a Regis University signee, eagled the par-5 fifth hole from 10 feet and added three birdies in the final round.

“That four-putt was not my greatest moment, but I wouldn’t change anything for the world,” said Weinstein, who finished 15th in last year’s prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships.

Weinstein has been a semi-regular at CommonGround this year as she’s part of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program there, but she said that didn’t give her any home-course advantage as she practices plenty at the facility but rarely plays the championship course.

Meanwhile, Chikoksoong carded the low round of the tournament on Tuesday — a 4-under-par 68 — to place second individually as a freshman, ending up at even-par 144. She made four straight birdies on Tuesday (holes 3-6) and six overall for the day.

Unfortunately, she can look at the four strokes she finished behind Weinstein and trace it all back to one hole, the 296-yard par-4 fourth, where she made a quadruple-bogey 8 in the first round.

“I guess I got kind of greedy on that one hole, trying to get on (the green) in one and pushed my shot into the trees,” she said. “I was so caught up in the moment that I just took shot after shot. I messed up on that hole. It was pretty upsetting. I just had to deal with it and keep moving on. That’s what today was — to keep making up those strokes.

“I ‘m really proud of how I played the second day. The first day, I guess I made a mental mistake and that pretty much cost me my round. We’re out here to win, you know, and coming in runner-up is kind of upsetting. But you’ve got to tip your hat to the winner. Mary had a great round and she completely deserves the win.”

Sahm, meanwhile, posted her fourth top-10 finish at state by ending up third. She carded a 73 on Tuesday to check in at 148.

“That’s OK,” she said. “I’m just happy I’m done with senior year and that ended it this way (with a team title).”

Final-Hole Birdie Proves Difference for Sargent in 4A: Erin Sargent of Silver Creek birdied the final hole of her high school golf career, giving her the individual title Tuesday in the 4A state meet at Pueblo Country Club.

The 10-foot birdie putt gave the University of Wyoming signee a one-stroke victory over playing partner Caroline Jordaan of Colorado Academy. Both players closed with 2-over-par 74s, with Sargent ending up with a two-day total of 5-over-par 149.

Sargent, who qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open last year, made three birdies — including on the first and last holes of the day — and five bogeys for round 2. Jordaan parred 11 of her final 12 holes, with a bogey on 16 proving costly.

But Jordaan’s Colorado Academy squad ran away with the team title, ending Cheyenne Mountain’s streak of three conscutive championships in 4A. CA posted a 36-over-par 468 total, while Cheyenne Mountain was second at 520.

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

After all, it’s been a full decade since there’s been no former individual state champions in the field for either the 5A or 4A girls tourneys — until now. This year, for the first time since 2006, it’s a guarantee going into state that no one will repeat as an individual champion in either classification. Last year’s winners, Jennifer Kupcho of Jefferson Academy (4A) and Gillian Vance of Dakota Ridge (5A) are now both college players, Kupcho at Wake Forest and Vance at the University of Colorado. And all the earlier state champs have also graduated.

In other words, both of this year’s tournaments will be far more wide-open affairs than usual.

CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora will host the 5A tournament May 23-24, just after the women’s NCAA Division II finals conclude at the facility. And Pueblo Country Club will be the site for the 4A tournament on the same days.

At CommonGround, the favorites will include Mary Weinstein and Jaclyn Murray of Regis Jesuit, Morgan Sahm and Amy Chitkoksoong of Grandview, Delaney Elliott of Monarch, Jennifer Hankins of Legacy, Madison McCambridge of Fairview, Alexis Chan of Rock Canyon, and Joanna Kempton and Delaney Benson of Heritage. Weinstein (pictured), who placed seventh last year, was the 2015 CWGA Junior Player of the Year after winning the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and finishing second at the open-division CWGA Stroke Play. Sahm, a top-10 finisher each of her first three state tournaments, and Chan tied for third in last year’s weather-shortened 5A meet.

Team-wise, Regis will be seeking its third consecutive state title and its fifth in the last seven years.

In the 4A meet at Pueblo CC, among the top players are Erin Sargent of Silver Creek, Kiselya Plewe of Montezuma-Cortez (playing for Dolores), Caroline Jordaan and Kacey Godwin of Colorado Academy, Hannah More of Mullen and Lauren Murphy of Glenwood Springs. Sargent, the highest returning player after placing third last year, qualified for the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur and will play college golf at the University of Wyoming.

Cheyenne Mountain will be attempting to win its fourth straight 4A state team championship.

Here are the team and individual champions from the 5A and 4A regional state-qualifying tournaments:

5A Northern at Ptarmigan CC — Team: Monarch 243; Individual: Joanna Kempton, Heritage, 71.

5A Central at South Suburban GC — Team: Regis Jesuit 237; Individual: Sarah Hunt, Denver East, 72.

5A Western at Tiara Rado GC — Team: Rock Canyon 220; Individual: Brandy McClain, Rock Canyon, 71.

5A Southern at Colorado Springs CC — Team: Ralston Valley 239; Individual: Jordan Remley, Ralston Valley, 73.

4A Western at Yampa Valley GC — Team: Rifle 358; Individual: Elly Walters, Rifle, 73.

4A Metro-West at Fox Hollow GC — Team: Colorado Academy 229; Individual: Caroline Jordaan, Colorado Academy, 72.

4A Northern at Saddleback GC — Team: (tie) Windsor and Northridge 279; Individual: Erin Sargent, Silver Creek, 74.

4A Colorado Springs at CC of Colorado — Team: Cheyenne Mountain 243; Individual: (tie) Regina Dillon, Cheyenne Mountain, and Kelsey McKenna, Air Academy, 78.

4A Southern at Steamboat Springs GC — Team: (tie) Pueblo County and Pueblo South 277; Individual: Sophia Montoya, Pueblo South, 78.

For tee times for the state tournaments: 5A at CommonGround, 4A at Pueblo CC.
 

The 2015 CHSAA 5A boys state high school tournament probably belongs in the “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” category.

Any one of these things would be improbable on its own, yet all of them occurred on Tuesday at Fort Collins Country Club:

— The host school, Fort Collins HS, which had just two players in the field, saw those two competitors finish 1-2, with Hunter Paugh (left) claiming the title and fellow senior AJ Ott placing second.

— Both of the top two finishers are left-handers.

— The individual champion, Paugh, won at his home course.

— Paugh led after the first round of the 5A state meet each of the last two years, but instead of shooting a second-round 77 and finishing third as he did in 2014, he closed the deal with an even-par 71 on Tuesday for the victory.

— Though Fort Collins HS has featured six state team champions over the nearly-70 years of boys state high school championships, it had never had an individual winner until Paugh broke the ice on Tuesday.

— With just a few groups left on the course, three schools (Regis Jesuit, defending champion Coronado and Lakewood) were tied for the lead in the team competition. Regis ended up prevailing by one over co-runners-up Coronado and Lakewood, with Fort Collins-based Fossil Ridge just four out of the top spot.

— In the last seven years, Regis has won five state team championships and finished second the other two years.

Suffice it to say it was a stellar ending to an eventful boys high school season. And the 5A was just one of the three state tournaments that concluded on Tuesday. For details about the 4A and 3A state meets, see below.

Paugh couldn’t keep the lead that he held after 18 holes last year, but this time around, no one ever caught him, though a couple of opponents crept within one shortly after he hit it into the water and made a double-bogey 7 on the seventh hole. He was solid as a rock thereafter, making two birdies and nine pars to fend off all challengers.

It was an ideal way to close out Paugh’s high school golf career — with a victory at state in his hometown and on his home course.

“This is just how my dream was — just exactly,” he said. “I can’t picture it any better, with all my family and friends around to support me after winning the state title. It’s amazing.”

Paugh, who has verbally committed to play college golf at the University of South Dakota, posted a 4-under-par 138 total, good for a three-stroke victory. Ott, his teammate, had gotten within one before placing second at 141 after closing with a 70.

Grand Junction junior Trevor Olkowski and Regis Jesuit senior Andrew McCormick (above) tied for third at 143, with Olkowski carding a day 2-best 69 and McCormick a 72.

Ott (left), a Colorado State University recruit who earlier this year finished third in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior and second in a playoff at the CGA Junior Stroke Play, notched his fourth top-10 at state. But a victory eluded him.

“It’s very disappointing,” he said. “I definitely wasn’t even close to my best. It’s just one of those days. It’s unfortunate it had to happen today.

“It bothers me, yeah, but it’s just one tournament. But then again, this year and last year especially I felt like I was really confident going in (to state).”

As for Paugh, he was unflappable following his double bogey on the seventh hole. After seeing his lead dwindle to one, he drained birdie putts of 10 feet on No. 11 and 6 feet on No. 12, and had a cushion of at least two the rest of the way.

“Last year gave me good experience going into today,” Paugh said. “Last year I went in (to the last day in) the same position. I knew what I needed to do today. No. 7 wasn’t a good hole but I knew I needed to let it go because you can’t do anything about it. I didn’t want to let it affect me. From there on I was just really comfortable.

“Winning state is big for anybody, but it’s huge after last year having a chance at it and I didn’t get it done. This year at my home course, being expected to play well, I filled those expectations. Having the state title is amazing. And it’s cool (for Fort Collins players) to be 1 and 2 at state this year.”

With Paugh holding a comfortable lead going up the final hole, the team title remained in doubt until the very end. But Regis, which won four straight 5A state championships from 2010-13, got birdies from McCormick at No. 16 and a 7-footer from junior Tyler Zhang at No. 18 to give the Raiders (left) a one-stroke victory.

“He hit one of the best drives I can imagine,” Regis coach Craig Rogers said of Zhang’s shot on 18. “He was about 95 yards out and hit it to about 7 feet. That was the difference at the end.”

Then McCormick sank a 4-foot slider on No. 17 and two-putted for par on 18 to keep Coronado and Lakewood at bay.

“Stepping up on the last tee box, all the people watching, hitting it down the middle of the fairway, then hitting it in the middle of the green, then hitting it about 2 inches …,” Rogers said of McCormick on 18. “For any kid to have that kind of poise, it’s just beautiful to watch. He’s a guy who loves the competition.”

Regis finished with a 15-over-par 441 total, while Coronado and Lakewood came in at 442 and Fossil Ridge at 445.

Solem Feels Right at Home in Claiming 4A Title: Paugh wasn’t the only golfer to win a state high school title in his hometown and on his home course on Tuesday. Junior Jackson Solem, who plays for Silver Creek High School in Longmont, earned the 4A championship at The Fox Hill Club.

Solem (left) shot a 1-under-par 69 on Tuesday to prevail by one over Valor Christian senior Coby Welch, who likewise carded a 69.

Solem, the 4A Northern Regional champion who earlier this year finished third in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, made two birdies and one bogey on Tuesday. He finished at 1-under 139 overall to become the first individual state champion to represent Silver Creek.

Welch, winner of the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship this year, was one ahead of Solem after 14 holes on Tuesday. But a double bogey on No. 15 proved costly as the University of Northern Colorado recruit lost the lead for good.

Windsor’s Cole Krantz, winner of the 2015 Colorado PGA Junior Championship, tied for third at 142 with first-round leader Philip Lee of Valor Christian.

Speaking of Valor, it won its third consecutive 4A state title — and fifth since 2009. This time, it was 28 strokes better than runner-up Silver Creek and another three better than third-place Evergreen.

Peak to Peak Pulls off Sweep of 3A Titles: Peak to Peak, which had never had a team or individual state champion in golf, rectified that situation on both fronts on Tuesday.

The Pumas (left) prevailed by nine for the team title at Eagle Ranch Golf Course in Eagle, and junior Sam Taylor ran away with the individual championship.

Taylor shot a 3-under-par 69 — the only sub-par round of the tournament — to finish at 3-under 141, good for a nine-stroke winning margin.

Taylor birdied five of his first seven holes on Tuesday before giving back a couple of strokes on the back nine.

Three players tied for second at 150: Oliver Jack of Kent Denver (75 Tuesday), Will Hazen of Aspen (72) and Ivan Richmond of Estes Park (74).

Defending champion Yale Kim of the Dawson School tied for sixth at 155.

Team-wise, Peak to Peak carded a 21-over-par 453 total. That was nine better than runner-up Kent Denver and 27 better than third-place Aspen.

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

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.
 

His start Monday notwithstanding, Spencer Painton must be taking quite a liking to Murphy Creek Golf Course.

The Regis Jesuit senior won a Class 5A regional tournament at the Aurora course almost two weeks ago, shooting a 4-under-par 68 in the process. Then on Monday during the first day of the 5A state tournament, Painton rallied after being 2 over par through three holes to fire a 6-under-par 66 and grab a one-stroke lead at Murphy Creek.

But that was just part of the story. What was especially spectacular was the way Painton finished his round — with six consecutive birdies, which gave him a 7-under-par 29 on the back nine.

“I was very pleased, especially after how I started,” said Painton (pictured above), who has committed to play college golf at the University of Kansas. “I heated up toward the end. It was very nice.

“I got off to a slow start but after that everything just began getting better and better.”

The performance pushed the 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur match play qualifier past his fellow 2012 5A state runner-up, Legacy junior Li Chen. Chen matched his best score ever, a 5-under-par 67, earlier in the day to set the pace.

Chen (pictured at left) made seven birdies on the day — including four in a row on the back nine (his front) — one fewer for the round than Painton.

“It was a great round; I felt comfortable with almost every single club,” said Chen, who has yet to win an individual high school tournament title this season. “I liked the way I started.

“I was aiming for a low score coming in . I’d say my goal on this course is 3 under because there’s reachable par-5s and short par-4s, so I was not that surprised by my score. But it’s definitely a great round.”

The only other players to shoot under par Monday were Keegan Sheard of Ralston Valley (70) and Jake Kelley of Regis (71), who like Painton played in this year’s U.S. Junior Amateur.

Regis, aiming for its fourth consecutive 5A state title, carded a 4-under-par 212 total. Ralston Valley stands in second place, nine shots back.

Silver Creek’s Rademacher-Howe Takes Narrow Lead in 4A: Silver Creek’s Andrew Rademacher-Howe fired a 1-under-par 69 and took a one-stroke lead after Monday’s first round of the 4A state tournament at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen.

Rademacher Howe played the last six holes in 3 under par to post the only sub-par round of the day.

Glenn Workman of Pueblo West and Isaac Petersilie of Coronado share second place at even-par 70. Wilson Belk of Cheyenne Mountain is another stroke back. No one else in the field broke 75.

Silver Creek carded a 13-over-par 223 total to take a five-stroke lead in the team competition. Valor Christian is next-best at 228.

Alexander Dawson in Control at 3A State Meet: Alexander Dawson teammates Cameron Connor and Cole Folwell matched 2-under-par 69s to set the pace in the 3A state tournament at Pueblo Country Club.

Tristan Rohrbaugh of Basalt, the son of HealthOne Colorado Senior Open champion Doug Rohrbaugh, started with a 71 and holds third place.

Alexander Dawson opened up a commanding 22-stroke lead after day 1. Dawson shot an even-par 213 total. Kent Denver, winner of a record seven straight 3A state titles, sits in second place at 245.

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

In the end, no matter how dominant Kent Denver’s golf team was, it couldn’t have it all Tuesday at the boys 3A state high school tournament at Pinehurst Country Club.

Most, but not all.

The Sun Devils set a Colorado high school record by collecting their seventh consecutive boys state golf championship. But there was no way to get around the fact that at least one of the team’s top two players was going to come up short in his attempt to win the individual state title.

As it turned out, senior Ben Moore closed out his high school career with his first individual state championship. But that only happened because he overcame teammate Ethan Freeman, who fell a little short in his bid to become the first Coloradan to claim three individual boys state high school titles.

“It’s bittersweet,” Freeman said. “I’m happy for Ben and I’m happy for the team, but I’d obviously like to come away with a win. But if there’s one kid I’m fine (with beating me), it’s Ben. He deserved it.”

As for possible “what-ifs” that might pass through Freeman’s mind, he doesn’t want to dwell on them.

“Coulda, shoulda, woulda,” he said. “Four team titles, two individual titles, top four (individually at state) all four years — I’ll take that.”

And Moore certainly did his part to claim the 3A individual championship, making birdies on three of the last four holes Tuesday to overtake Freeman.

The University of Colorado-bound Freeman led Moore by three strokes as he walked to the 12th tee, but he three-putted Nos. 13, 15 and 16 while Moore made his late charge to capture the title.

Moore (pictured at left), who will play college golf at NCAA Division III Emory University in Atlanta, shot an even-par 70 for the second straight day to finish with a 140 total. Freeman carded a second-round 73 to end up three behind. Faith Christian’s Jack Cummings placed third (75-72–147) for his second straight top-10 showing in the 3A tournament.

“It feels good to beat Ethan because he’s arguably the best player here,” said Moore, who finished fourth last year as Freeman won title No. 2. “I was really looking forward to playing against him today and seeing what happened. I was really excited with the way I played and the way it turned out.

“I think it was fun. Both of us probably enjoyed it; I know I certainly did. It just feels good to win.”

Certainly both players agree that it was special to lead Kent to its seventh straight team title, which breaks the record previously shared by Kent and ThunderRidge (2001-06 in 5A). The Sun Devils have won every 3A state title held in Colorado (2008-2012), along with 4A championships in 2006 and 2007. Bob Austin has coached all those teams, having taken over as head coach in 2006.

“I’m glad I just helped my team win another one and get in the record books,” Freeman said.

This year, Kent claimed the state title by 27 strokes over Holy Family. The Sun Devils finished with a 25-over-par 445 total. (Team members pictured at top are, from left, Moore, Josh Repine, Austin, Freeman and Will Fehr.)

This marked the fourth year under Austin that Kent has won both the team and individual championships. Beau Schoolcraft claimed the individual title in 2007, when teammate Matt Schovee placed second..

“To win seven is just a dream come true,” said Austin, whose Kent Denver teams have never done anything but claim state titles in his seven seasons as head coach. “I’m very blessed. When I started, in my wildest imagination I could never have imagined this. Each and every one is special and each and every one is different.”

With Kent Denver’s team title all but locked up, the only suspense coming down the stretch Tuesday was whether Moore or Freeman would prevail individually.

For quite a while, it looked like Freeman (pictured at left) would get his individual three-peat. After Moore three-putted No. 10 for bogey and Freeman birdied 11 a group ahead, the defending champ was up by three shots.

But Moore made a pivotal shot on No. 11 that helped turn the tide. With a tree on the left side of the fairway about six feet in front of him and slightly to the right, Moore had very little room for error with his approach shot to an elevated green.

If he pulled the shot, he could go out of bounds or at least end up with an awkward third. But he struck the ball perfectly, leaving him with a 20-foot birdie putt which he sunk.

“That was big,” he admitted. “I made bogey on 10 and wasn’t too happy with the way I was playing. I knew I was two or three down and I needed to make something happen. I was really happy with that approach shot.”

But Freeman still led by one while on the 15th green. With a ticklish downhill birdie putt, he ran the ball by the cup about 3 1/2 feet, then missed the come-backer. Playing in the group behind, Moore grabbed the lead with a sterling wedge shot and a 3-foot birdie putt.

On the next hole, No. 16, there was another two-shot swing with Moore making birdie and Freeman a bogey. After Freeman three-putted from 10 feet, Moore hit the green of the par-5 in two and two-putted for his birdie.

“I knew those were birdie holes and I needed to make at least one birdie, and I’m glad I made two,” Moore said.

As for Freeman, he said he put too much pressure on his putter by going long with his approach shots.

“You can’t hit it past the pin here; you’re just dead if you do,” he noted. “Almost every hole I hit it past the pin and had downhill putts.”

The four-shot swing in two holes put Moore three ahead, and the margin would get no smaller than two the rest of the way.

“As happy as I am for Ben — shooting 70-70 on this golf course is all-world — Ethan could have become the first player to ever win three,” Austin said. “He handled (finishing second) with class and dignity. He still finished second at state and he’s played on four teams that won state championships. And he finished top four (at state) all four years. I told him afterward, ‘You’ve had one of the great high school careers in (Colorado) history and I’m really proud of you.’

“It was real exciting and really fun to watch. I was rooting for both of them. I’m really happy for Ben. He just kept his emotions in check and his head in it. He never made a big mistake.”

Dunkle’s Birdie on 18 Gives Him 5A State Title: Junior Kyler Dunkle of Douglas County, who shot a 66 to qualify for the state tournament, continued his strong play by winning the 5A state title at The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden.

Dunkle birdied the 18th hole to edge Eric Chen of Legacy and Spencer Painton of Regis Jesuit by one stroke.

Dunkle shot a 1-under-par 70 to finish at 3-over 145. Chen likewise posted a 70 on Tuesday, while Painton birdied the final hole for a 71. First-round leader Donny Kinnaman of Grand Junction closed with a 75 to end up in fourth place at 147.

Regis claimed its third straight 5A team title, finishing at 20-over-par 446, eight strokes ahead of Ralston Valley.

Allenback Keeps Foot on Gas to Win 4A Championship: Senior Jacob Allenback of Pueblo Centennial went wire-to-wire in winning the 4A state championship at The Links at Cobble Creek in Montrose.

Allenback fired a 1-under-par 71 Tuesday to finish at 5-under-par 139. In 36 holes, he recorded just three scores of bogey or worse: one double bogey and two bogeys.

Josh McLaughlin of Thompson Valley placed second, two behind Allenback, after a 69 on Tuesday. Glenn Workman of Pueblo West ended up third at 142 after his second straight 71. Jack Adolfson of Silver Creek, last year’s runner-up, placed fourth at 1-under 143 after a closing 68.

Pueblo South and 2010 and ’11 state champion Valor Christian tied for the low team score with 11-over-par 443s. South then prevailed on the second hole of a playoff to earn its first boys state golf title since 1978.
 

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

Nine golfers who finished in the top 10 at last year’s girls 5A state high school tournament had to take a back seat Tuesday to a player who didn’t crack the top 30 in 2011.

Cherry Creek junior Mackenzie Cohen, who shot 93 in the first round of the 5A state tourney last spring, posted a score 26 strokes better in the final round of this year’s meet en route to an improbable victory Tuesday at Aurora Hills Golf Course.

Cohen (pictured at left), who’s been the No. 3 or 4 player for the Bruins most of the season, fired a 5-under-par 67 Tuesday to earn by far the biggest victory of her career. Her final round included seven birdies in a span of nine holes as she shot the best score of her life — by seven strokes.

‘”It was fun,” the 17-year-old said. “I love playing like that. I just like being out there.”

Cohen’s 3-under-par 141 total gave her a one-shot victory over Rock Canyon senior Allie Johnston, the CWGA Junior Player of the Year in 2011. Johnston also closed with a 67. Arapahoe sophomore Hannah Wood placed third at 143.

The top 10 was filled with many of the same players as last year. In fact, seven golfers who made the top 10 in 2011 did so again on Tuesday. But they couldn’t keep up with Cohen, who finished 33rd at state a year ago.

Asked if she came into the tournament with any expectations of winning, Cohen said, “No, no. I have not played very well at state before so that’s by far the best I’ve ever done.”

Talk about a meteoric rise.

The middle of Cohen’s round set her apart from the pack. In the nine-hole stretch starting on No. 5, she made seven birdies and two pars, sinking many a long putt in the process. Then to keep her momentum going, she drained a 15-foot par save on No. 15.

“I felt good,” said Cohen, who also led Cherry Creek to the team title. “I usually play pretty relaxed. I was just making a lot of putts I guess. … I was just playing how I usually play and it seemed to be working.

“It didn’t really hit me until the 15th or 16th hole. I tried to stay calm and keep playing my game.”

Cohen said she didn’t come close to winning any invitational tournaments this season, but she certainly picked the right time to have her career round.

“I’ve been working pretty hard” on my game, she said. “I’ve worked on my short game a lot. That was my biggest weakness, and (the work) paid off today.”

Johnston (pictured at left), competing in her final high school tournament before moving on to play college golf at Texas-San Antonio, made quite a surge of her own. She posted seven birdies Tuesday, but a missed 3-foot par putt on No. 15 proved costly.

“I was trying to birdie every hole,” she said matter-of-factly. “I figured eventually that would probably get me to a good number.

“I did my best and I was happy I was beat and didn’t just give it away or anything. It feels good still. That was my best score ever (67). I can’t be upset with it.”

This is the second runner-up finish for Johnston in the state high school tournament. She also placed second in 2010, in Class 4A.

Cohen and Johnston led a torrid scoring day for several of the leaders. Four scores in the 60s were posted on Friday, with Cherry Creek’s Calli Ringsby (68 for a share of fourth place) and Highlands Ranch’s Patricia Lee (69 for fourth place) joining in the fun.

One player who may look back on Tuesday with some “what ifs” in her mind is first-round co-leader Shannon Lubar of Chatfield. She finished tied for fourth place, three out of the top spot, but she four-putted twice in the final round. Especially painful was a four-putt from 4 feet that resulted in a triple bogey on No. 6.

With an impressive 9-under-par total of 207 for its top three players on Tuesday, Cherry Creek won its second consecutive state team title — and record ninth overall in girls golf. Creek’s 3-under 429 total was 14 strokes better than 2010 champion Arapahoe. Fairview (461) was third.

Schroeder Rallies to Earn 4A Title in a Playoff: Senior Bryce Schroeder of Pueblo South, the runner-up in the 4A state tournament last year, moved up to the top spot in 2012 on Tuesday with her come-from-behind victory at Boomerang Golf Links in Greeley.

After tying Regis Jesuit’s Kathleen Kershisnik in regulation with a 65-foot birdie putt on No. 18 that left her at 3-under-par 143, Schroeder claimed the title with a birdie on the second playoff hole. Schroeder will play college golf at Wichita State.

The University of Wyoming-bound Kershisnik — who has finished second twice at state and third and fourth once each — bogeyed three of the last five holes in regulation to end up in the playoff. She shot a 73 on Tuesday, while Schroeder carded a 71. Jennifer Kupcho of Jefferson Academy (71-144) took third place.

In the team race, Regis won its second 4A state title in the last three years. Its 454 total was 13 strokes better than defending champion Pueblo South.

For scores, CLICK HERE FOR 5A and CLICK HERE FOR 4A.