'Stangs gain experience in golf finale
Mullen finishes 12th in 4A boys golf team chase; Brady takes 19th; 3-of-4 competitors back for next season.
The first Colorado championship in the return to normalcy from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had a younger, greener Mullen boys golf team competing close to home and gaining experience for the future.
The Mustangs, second in the shortened 2020 and with the second- and third-place individual finishers, completed 2021 on Tuesday at the revamped and testing City Park Golf Course with a 12th-place finish in the team chase and their top competitor ending tied for 19th in the second round of the Class 4A Championship.
With three Mustangs in their first championship on a warm, sunny and glorious Colorado early fall day, head coach Jerry Koehler knew his players had to fight on the newer layout that came with oil-slick greens and demanding pin placements.
As it was, Ryan Brady tied for 19th, Ethan Karr tied for 48th, Ben Hawes was 60th and Jack Newton 71st.
“it was lot of good things that happened and a lot of things that were disappointing,” he said. “Overall, there still were some positives to take from this. These guys are pretty resilient. The experience is very valuable. There’s nothing we can do in practice or league meets that can replicate this.”
Brady, a sophomore in his first final, shot 75 each day for a 10-over-par total. He craved a top-10 placing, but “I’m pleased with the way I played.”
He double-bogeyed only one of his 36 holes in recording his lone 6 and turned in three birdies in his final round.
“I thought the greens were very tough,” Brady said. “But this bodes well for next year.”
Karr, a junior, went 40-43 to finish at 162.
“It was a tough course today,” he said. “I thought the greens were very quick.”
Hawes’ 82 was a two-shot improvement from Day 1, but both rounds were a meaningful cap for the senior, who also competed in last year’s finale at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs.
“It’s my last go-round and I’m just grateful for all of the experiences and all the memories I’ve made over the past four years,” he said. “No regrets.”
Newton, a sophomore, finished at 171 after an 86 and took it for the learning experience it was.
“It was OK,” he said of his first championship appearance, “but we had a rough day … it’s good I get the experience heading into my upperclassmen years.”
Riverdale Ridge went wire-to-wire to take team honors and Windsor senior Brentyn Paiz turned in a five-birdie 67 to win medalist by two shots.
This weekend, the Mustangs will have their annual Mullen Cup. It will be held at Raccoon Creek G.C. in Littleton with foursomes playing alternate shot in match play.
It’s the usual finish, including awards, to a season for all players in the program.
RESULTS
TUESDAY
CLASS 4A CHAMPIONSHIP
At City Park G.C.
Pat 34-36—70
Round 2
Team scores – Riverdale Ridge 216-220—436; Windsor 234-214—445; Cheyenne Mountain 222-225—447 and Silver Creek 228-219—447; Falcon 229-221--450; Pueblo West 234-224-458; Niwot 241-220—461; Montrose 233-231—464 and Steamboat Springs 232-232—464; Evergreen 235-233-468; Ponderosa 241-235—476; Mullen 238-240—478; Denver North 266-223-489; Lewis-Palmer 252--238—490; Skyline 262-257—519.
Mullen individuals – 19. (tie) Ryan Brady 75-75—150; 48. (tie) Ethan Karr 79-83—162; 60. (tie) Ben Hawes 84-82—166; 71. Jack Newton 85-86—171.
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