It could be a history-making year at the boys state high school tournaments, and it won’t take a stretch to get there. All that has to happen is for some of the favorites to live up to their billing.
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.
