At a time when many of the fall sports teams have begun the process of finalizing their rosters, the boys golfers around the state are already calculating putts, working out of sand traps and shaving off strokes.
Last season’s run toward the state tournament came with plenty of surprises, and perhaps a bit of intrigue that was a long time coming. Take Fairview’s Miles Kuhl, for example. The bespectacled sophom*ore for the Knights, having displayed an immense talent for the game from the onset, tied for runner-up in the 5A state tournament while carrying the type of confidence generally seen in older players.
Peak to Peak’s Om Mathur fell more into the shocker category. Then a junior, the second-year golfer rose all the way to the top of the 3A pecking order. Some people just seem to be born with a natural talent — for just about everything, in Mathur’s case.
The preseason rankings tell another story.
Six local squads, many of which fell squarely in the middle of the pack during last year’s run to the various state tournaments, have caught the eyes of coaches around Colorado.
Let’s take a look at five teams and players to keep an eye on, a few weeks after the season has already begun.
5 teams
Erie:If the girls team has proven anything over the past few seasons, it’s that a strong affinity for golf lies within the city limits of Erie, Colorado. The Tigers’ coach, Brandon Bird, was blessed with two incredibly talented golfers that he was able to mold into state champions.
And man, can he coach.
The Tigers boys may not house the type of generational talent that the girls have had the past three seasons, but Bird has ensured they wouldn’t be left behind. They sent a full squad to the state tournament in 2023, finishing seventh, and are now enjoying the 5A No. 9 ranking in the preseason poll.
Broomfield:The Eagles sent just two golfers to the 4A tourney last year, both of which peaced-out with their diplomas just a few months later. Despite that loss, Broomfield rang in with a tie at seventh place — alongside Highlands Ranch.
It’s not hard to see why.
In their first round of the season, Ian Carlin led the way with a first-round score of 78 (No. 20) while both Jackson Fleckenstein and Dimitri Mesnickow shot matching 80s to tie for 35th in the individual Class 4A rankings.
Niwot: The Cougars fell next in line in the 4A popularity contest, nabbing No. 9 in the coaches poll, and haven’t wasted that honor one bit through their first two events of the season. They sent just two players to the postseason last year but seem to be rising fast already in 2024.
Junior Jackson Sessa is holding steady at No. 20 (78-stroke average) alongside teammate Moses Lance, who’s achieved that same feat early on. The rest of the Cougars’ top four likewise fall into the top 30, with Drew Stapp and Charlie Budacz carding an average of 79.
Monarch: The Coyotes dropped down into 4A from 5A, and man, has that been a good look for them. The vibe shift has certainly been a nice change for this band of boys, and their scores are jumping off the charts.
Three of their top four players are enjoying top-20 marks within the classification, and the last one is sitting squarely at No. 43 (Benji Wright, 81 strokes). Dobi Argirov, only a sophom*ore, shot a 76 during his first round to land him at No. 10, followed by Justin Myers (No. 13, 77) and Rhys Ayandele (No. 20, 78).
The rest of 4A better not sleep on Monarch.
Holy Family:The Tigers lost their entire varsity top four to the college transfer portal after an incredibly productive last postseason, but that talent seems to have seeped down into its younger players.
Call it trickle-down ergonomics.
The coaches’ poll placed Holy Family at No. 4 in 3A, but it seems the Tigers are still shedding their offseason rust a bit. Senior Joe Lucas is leading the way with and average of 81 through his first two rounds, but the rest of the team is still waiting in the wings.
5 players
Om Mathur, Peak to Peak:Mathur’s return to the high school competition comes with a lot of pressure, but the Pumas senior seems to be handling it with plenty of grace — and maybe a little ice in his veins.
Through his first two outings, he’s averaged 70.5 strokes, placing him at No. 2 in all of 3A. His teammate, junior Jack Brayman, trails just behind at 73, good for seventh. No wonder the Pumas were ranked No. 2 before they even began playing.
Miles Kuhl, Fairview:The reigning 5A runner-up hasn’t yet made his 2024 high school debut, but that hasn’t stopped him from dipping his toes in plenty of other tournaments.
His coach, John Zerwin, said he “had a remarkable summer of golf. He won the AJGA tournament at Walnut Creek in June. He also played great in several other national junior tournaments including the Junior Americas Cup. He qualified for the U.S. Amateur, being played at Hazeltine in Minnesota next week. He is the third youngest player in the field.”
The Knights were ranked No. 10 prior to the season.
Peter Ernst, Dawson: The giant on the basketball court — measuring in at 6-foot-7 — isn’t hard to pick out of a crowd. He’s ensuring his golf game will stick out just as much as the top of his head does.
Ernst is already making waves in the newly formed 2A golf classification, shooting a 77 in his first round to rank him at No. 11. He’ll be looking to qualify for state after missing out during his junior campaign.
Zack LaCrosse, Skyline: A menace on the mound and in the batter’s box during the spring, Lyons sophom*ore Zack LaCrosse is presumably making the drive all the way from the foothills down to Union Reservoir.
The pitching and batting fiend, who hit .434 with 23 RBIs during his freshman debut with the Lions, is now swinging an entirely different instrument — and doing it well. In two outings, he’s averaged a score of 76.5, placing him at 12th in 4A.
Jayson Mitts, Longmont: With a mean of 78.5 through his first two rounds, this sophom*ore from the northern edge of Boulder County has proven himself to be quite the Trojan horse. Last year, he showed he was capable of shooting in the 60s, and a year of added maturity shouldn’t hurt his chances to not only qualify for state, but compete well.
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