WINDSOR – There’s nothing that tests the resilience of a team like grinding out a gritty performance when things don’t go your way.
The Montezuma-Cortez High School boys golf team battled through a challenging 36 holes at RainDance National Resort and Golf in Windsor against the best teams in the 3A classification to claim seventh in the 14-team field. Even through the moments in which the course made life difficult for the players, third-year head coach Todd Plewe’s team persevered to play steady golf and earn another top 10 state finish.
Junior Vince Lopez found himself in the penultimate group for Tuesday’s final round after firing an opening round 78 (+6) to place himself squarely in the top 10 through 18 holes. Matching 39s on the front and back nine, highlighted by birdies on the 2nd and 15th holes propelled Lopez into the rarefied air at the top of the leader board.
Tuesday’s deciding round, however, showed why Lopez continues to rocket up the state’s rankings, as Lopez rebounded from a tough opening nine that saw him briefly fall outside the top 10, only to rally with birdies on 12 and 14 to earn a back-nine 39 and a two-day score of 161 (+17), good for a tie for eighth place. The finish is Lopez’s best in three tries at the state championships.
Much like Lopez, Panthers senior Kaden Huff posted his best score on Day 1, holding his composure on the state’s biggest stage with five pars on the opening nine holes to emerge with a 42 to open his ledger. Huff continued to play steady golf on the back nine, landing himself in the top half of the field through day one with an 86 (+14).
On a course with several par fours listed at over 470 yards, Huff needed every bit of his powerful drives on day two, where the scoring average increased for most teams in the field. Huff’s second round 97 earned him a tie for 53rd with a two-day total of 183.
Huff finished one stroke and two places in front of junior Gavin Frost, who made his state debut. Much like Huff, Frost collected a bundle of pars on the first nine of the tournament, then added a birdie on his 16th hole of the day in the opening round to earn a 90 (+18).
Frost then added another solid stretch on day two, parring four out of six holes in the middle of his round to work his way toward a 94 and a 55th place finish.
Senior Airoughn Morris took on his second state appearance prepared to challenge the course, much like he’s done over his impressive M-CHS wrestling career. In his final rounds as a Panther, Morris limited big numbers in his first round, posting a 46 on the opening nine on his way to a 96 (+24).
A trio of pars on day two’s opening nine helped Morris to work his way toward a two-day total of 199 and a tie for 69th place.
The Panthers collected a team total of 528, tying them with Colorado Academy for seventh place, and placing them among the highest finishers from the Western half of the state.
Peak to Peak junior Om Mathur won the individual title wire-to-wire, leaning on an opening round 70 (-2) to separate himself from the field, before closing with a 147 to win by two strokes. Resurrection Christian placed three golfers in the top five individuals to run away with the team title with a 456, topping runner-up Peak to Peak by 19 strokes.
