CORTEZ – Before the season, a lot of uncertainty surrounded the realignment of CHSAA classifications – with Montezuma-Cortez now having to face off against larger schools in the recalibrated 3A field. Yet, even as the names within the tournament field changed, the results stayed the same – everyone looking up at the Panthers at the top of the leaderboard.
Playing their home course at Conquistador Golf Course on Monday afternoon, the Panthers adjusted to the late September breezes to blow past the 3A Region 1 field, scoring a 229 as a team to win the regional by 10 strokes. Senior Vince Lopez captured the regional individual title as the only golfer under par, while his three teammates all landed inside the top 20.
Lopez, joined by classmates Gavin Frost and Frankey Montoya, as well as freshman Zye Kuenzler, continued a strong legacy of Panther teams protecting the home turf. Led by first-year head coach Michael Doyle, another sub-230 round as a team puts the Panthers among the high-flying programs vying for a state title at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo on Monday and Tuesday, Oct. 7-8.
Lopez took all the drama out of the individual title race with a sparkling back nine, turning a one-shot deficit to Pagosa Springs junior Johnathon Smith into a five-stroke victory. Lopez posted a birdie on 11 to build his lead to three shots, then added back-to-back-to-back birdies on 14, 15, and 16 to seal the win. His 33 on the back nine closed out a round of 70 (-2) for his first regional title and his fourth state appearance.
“My wedge game was really working – and it helps to know these greens,” said Lopez, “as the round went along, I definitely felt more comfortable.”
“In past years we’ve been close to winning,” added Lopez of his team’s breakthrough at regionals, “but this year we were able to pull through – it’s awesome. This is good motivation to build off of as we head to state.”
Kuenzler joined Lopez with a steady back nine, particularly as the winds increased their tenacity in the later holes of the round. After opening with a 40 on the front nine, Kuenzler dropped in a tricky putt on 13 for par, then followed that with a birdie on 14. Three pars capped his round of 78 (+6) – good for fourth overall – and his first opportunity to face the state field.
“I knew I needed to score to help the team,” said Kuenzler, who made adjustments to his game as the conditions dictated, “the course got harder, so I had to club up and change where I aimed.” He then added, “It’s awesome to do this for our seniors to do this in their last year.”
Frost stroked home a birdie on the finishing hole to close out an even par stretch for the final five holes. His round of 81 (+9) also included a birdie on the 4th hole, as the senior makes his second state appearance for the Panthers. Frost added to his haul of high finishes in his senior campaign with an eighth-place effort.
“It’s great that we got to do this in front of our home fans,” said Frost, “and to win this as a team means a lot to us. Vince was a huge part of carrying us today.”
Senior Frankey Montoya can now add golf state qualifier to his state appearances for Dove Creek in both wrestling and baseball. Montoya battled his way through the windy conditions to score an 89 (+17), which included balanced front and back nines (45-44) and a birdie on the 10th hole to place him in a tie for 18th overall.
“These four years have meant so much – I’ve learned a lot, not just about golf, but about life,” said Montoya, who qualified for state in his first ever regional appearance for the Panthers, “and it’s crazy to think that I only started playing when I was a freshman – and how far I’ve come since then.”
Peak to Peak claimed the other team qualifying spot, finishing with a score of 239. The Panthers head to Pueblo for their state tournament action beginning on Monday, Oct. 7, with the two-day, 36-hole competition wrapping up the following afternoon.
“It’s going to be one heck of a trip to Pueblo,” said Frost, “we’re looking to go and play our game.”
