Boys’ Golf Regions Roundup – Colorado High School Activities Association

Class 5A Central Regional

The Castle View Sabercats had a great day at Overland Park on Tuesday, winning the tag team title with a collective score of 214, which puts them at 2 under par as a team. Cherry Creek, last year’s runner-up in Class 5A, and Monarch are tied for second place with 217 matching team scores.

In the individual competition, Columbine junior Matai Naqica was the winner with a 3-under 69. He was 4 under par on the back nine.

Behind Naquica, Castle View senior Luke Cushman and Monarch junior Talan Gover tied for second with a matching 70. It was tied at six for fourth at par-72.

Class 5A Northern Regional

Finishing 1 under par with a team score of 209, Pine Creek captured the team title finishing eight strokes ahead of runners-up Boulder. All four Pine Creek golfers finished in the top 10 to earn the Eagles their first regional men’s golf title in 19 years.

Pine Creek senior Wesley Erling, who ranked second in the state last season, won the individual playoff title. He and teammate Bentley Barnett, also a senior, Arvada West senior Luke Landskov and Legend junior Spencer Schlagel each carded a 69.

Class 5A Western Regional

Highlands Ranch’s tag team score of 220 earned the Falcons the tag team title, edging out Eaglecrest by four strokes. The Falcons placed three golfers in the top four and four in the top 10. ThunderRidge was third with 228 and Ralston Valley fourth with 230.

Eaglecrest senior Andrew White, who finished outside the state’s top 30 last season, was the region’s individual champion with a 2-under 71, hitting three of the final four holes at the course at Adobe Creek National Golf Course for six total birdies in the day. Highlands Ranch rookie Billy Verstraate was second at 1 under par.

Class 4A Region 2

The Region 2 championship went to Cheyenne Mountain with a team score of 217 at the Country Club of Colorado. Four Red-Tails Hawks placed in the top six with scores at 75 strokes or less. Evergreen was second, three strokes behind Cheyenne Mountain, and Dakota Ridge was third.

The individual trophy went to Evergreen sophomore Tyler Long, who posted a 3-under 68 with seven birdies. Chasing Long in the clubhouse was a trio of Cheyenne Mountain golfers – senior Thomas Herholtz (70), sophomore Charlie Doyle (73) and senior Carter Surofchek (74). Liam Houlihan, one of many Evergreen sophomores competing on Monday, also tied for fourth with a 74.

Class 4A Region 4

Montrose was the winner in Region 4, narrowly holding off Grand Junction by two strokes for the tag team title. The Red Hawks finished with an overall team score of 217.

The individual run also featured a battle between the Red Hawks and Tigers, with Montrose senior Jake Legg winning the trophy with a 4-under 68 that saw him birdie three straight holes on the nine of return. Grand Junction freshman Hunter Simmons, who played a bogey-less bogey from nine with three birdies, finished one stroke back at 69.

Montrose junior Noah Richmond placed third with a 71, and Erie rookie Sean Cary and Mullen junior Jack Newton tied for fourth at 72.

Class 3A Region 1

In Conquistador, it was Colorado Academy that got away with the tag team title. Last year’s runners-up, the Mustangs earned a team score of 225 points to claim the trophy by finishing 11 strokes ahead of host Montezuma-Cortez.

While the hosts failed to win a tag team title, senior Thayer Plewe staged a fantastic under-4 round to finish with a 68 that included six birdies. Behind Plewe, Colorado Academy’s JT Timmers (72) and Colgin Youssi (74) placed second and third respectively. Fowler’s Blake Buchner and Colorado Academy’s Corbin Bank are tied for fourth with a matching 79.

Class 3A Region 3

After not considering the team’s score in last year’s 3A State Tournament, this year’s Resurrection Christian team has clearly taken a big step forward. On Tuesday in Highland Hills, the Cougars won the Region 3 tag team title with a team score of 229. That was 16 strokes better than runner-up Holy Family.

Individually, it was Libery Common junior Ryan Woodley who won it all, finishing with a 3 of 74 that included an eagle on the par-5 fourth hole. Resurrection Christian freshmen Jack Carter and Clint Summers are tied for second with 75 matches, while Frontier Academy’s Daniel Wyperd took fourth with a 78.

Class 3A Region 4

After placing fourth in last year’s 3A State Tournament, Vail Mountain did well at regionals with a team score of 225 and the tag team championship. Basalt was just one stroke behind with a 2206 and 2021 champion, Aspen was third with a score of 333.

Vail Mountain’s Felix Gruner, who finished tied for 15th in the state last season, won the individual title by five strokes with a 2-under 70 that included four birdies. Behind Gruner was a trio of Basalt golfers – Jackson Stewart (75), Garrett Exelbert (75) and Jase Joslin (76) – completing the top four ahead of a four-way tie for fifth place.