'Stangs Fab Four set for regional golf

No doubt this has been a fantastic year for Mullen boys golf.

Throughout the regular season, multiple Mustangs took turns individually leading the team and finished no worse than second as a group in any Centennial League matches.

They also won a couple of league matches against a Class 5A-based field.

Rhett Johnson had a strong showing in the opening match at Buffalo Run Golf Course and paced a team league victory at Foothills G.C. He was joined by Mario Dino, who fired a blistering 31 on the front nine at Murphy Creek G.C. for a 2-under-par 70 that included three eagles over eight holes to tie for medalist and lead Mullen to another league team title.

Entering the postseason for tune-ups, Mullen won the post-league Centennial practice gathering at Aurora Hills G.C. and recently won as a team at Keystone.

“Absolutely,” Mustangs head coach Jerry Koehler said, “it has been a good year with good stuff still to come.”

And it’s here – the Mustangs will be in Class 4A regional competition on Wednesday (Sept. 25) at Overland G.C. with high expectations of qualifying for the state match.

“They are very excited,” Koehler said.

Dino, Johnson and seniors Eli Marquez and Cole Reister will be there for the Mustangs in an 8 a.m. shotgun start.

The Mustangs are one of 14 teams set to compete along with Battle Mountain, Centaurus, Central (G.J.), Conifer, Denver North, Eagle Valley, Thomas Jefferson, Montrose, the two-time defending state champion, Northfield, Palisade, Rifle, Summit, and George Washington.

Teams will have four players. Two teams will advance and a total of 21 players will comprise the field of 84 at The Ridges in Montrose Oct. 7-8.