Vail Christian golf posts best team finish in program history at 2A state tournament
The Saints placed fifth in their first state tournament appearance since 2012
In its first trip to the state tournament as a team since 2012, the Vail Christian boys golf team posted the program’s best finish.
Sam Casey, Eli Adams, Patrick Greer and Wyatt Hansen combined for 511 strokes over the two-day 2A tournament at Rolling Hills Country Club in Golden as the Saints claimed a fifth-place finish. Golden View Classical Academy (489) claimed a narrow win over Monte Vista (491) and Sterling (492).
“So proud of the team and their accomplishments this season,” said coach Chad Hansen. “Rolling Hills Country Club played wonderfully over the two days with a challenging layout and very fast and undulating greens.”
Casey — who picked up individual wins this year at the Eagle Valley Invitational and the 2A Region 4 championships — led Vail Christian with a two-day total of 165. The senior, who finished 27th at state last year shot an 80 on the first day and was 1-over on the front nine on day two. He opened the back nine with a triple bogey, double bogey and bogey, however, sliding out of the top-10 in the process.
“Sam played well but struggled with the flat stick a bit,” Hansen said. “Eli and Patrick bested their round one scores and played great in round two and Wyatt overcame his bad opening tee shot at regionals and ripped both of his opening drives down the middle.”
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Adams went 88-83 to place 23rd while Greer shot 90-86 to take 32nd. Hansen finished in 65th with an 89 and 99.
Vail Mountain School, which claimed the regional team title but was playing without Porter Huff at state, wound up in 11th. Oliver Kullberger (86-83) placed 19th, Weston Roach (86-97) was 50th and Fisher Phillips (87-104) took 68th.
Casey and Kullberger earned second-team all-state honors for their performances.
Strasburg’s Kameron Gilbert shot a 1-under 70 on the second day to move from fifth after the first day and claim a three-shot state title.
“I’ve been out on state by a couple of shots the last three years,” Gilbert told CHSAA. “To come out with a W is pretty cool.”
Eagle Valley’s Ben Vito (81-79) and Hudson Rozga (78-85) placed 38th and 45th, respectively, in the 3A tournament at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo.
Evergreen placed four golfers in the top seven to claim a 17-point win over Resurrection Christian. Evergreen won the 4A state title last year. Senior Tyler Long — who was second in the 4A event last year and is headed to the University of Colorado next year — carded a 67 and 68 — to take the four-stroke win.
Basalt finished third as a team, led by sophomore Griffin Didier’s runner-up finish.
“We are thrilled for Griffin for a really outstanding few days of golf,” Basalt High School coach Travis Stewart told the Aspen Times via text. “He and the young nucleus of Hudson Arnold and Parker Strelecki are the future of the program.”
Aspen finished sixth in the 16-team field.