COLORADO SPRINGS | The Regis Jesuit boys golf team walked away from the Class 5A state tournament with yet another trophy, but it wasn’t the one the Raiders really wanted.
Coach Craig Rogers’ Raiders and the rest of the field had virtually no chance to stay with the outstanding play of a Coronado team playing in its own back yard, but seniors Kevin Shafer and Jack Lazzeri and juniors Andrew McCormick and Bennett Rogers grinded their way into a share of second place.
Finally adjusting to a challenging Colorado Springs Country Club course with fast greens that played havoc with many a putt, Regis Jesuit played seven strokes better than in Monday’s weather-affected opening round to finish with a team score of plus-41 467, but saw its four-year championship winning streak come to a close.
Though the Raiders believed Bennett Rogers’ clutch par putt on No. 9 had put them into second place alone, it turned out they finished with the same total as Lakewood, which shot 15 strokes better in the second round to tie Regis Jesuit at 467, 21 strokes behind Coronado.
Instead of a playoff between the two teams, both received runner-up trophies.
For Regis Jesuit, it was the sixth straight season it finished in the top two at the 5A state tournament, matching the runner-up finish in 2009 that preceded its four straight victories.
Shafer and Lazzeri both played significantly better in the second round for the Raiders, as Shafer carded a 3-over 74 — the lowest round of any Aurora player in the field — to shave four strokes off his opening round total and Lazzeri improved by six strokes with a 75.
Thought Bennett Rogers finished in a tie for 70th overall, his 81 proved to be the score Regis Jesuit needed to grab a share of second place.
Just five strokes behind the Raiders came Aurora’s other team qualifier — Cherokee Trail — which finished seventh in its team debut at state.
Senior Mitchell Nevin made a huge jump to bolster the Cougars, following up an opening round 88 with a 4-over 75 in the second round, the same as sophomore Bradley Scalia.
Ji Woo Jang and Zach Goldsmith ran into significantly more difficulty on the second day than the first for Cherokee Trail, which finished two shots out of a tie for fourth with Boulder, Highlands Ranch and Ralston Valley.
Eaglecrest freshman Davis Bryant fell short of his goal of a top 20 finish in his state debut, but he ended his second round strong for a 77. His two-day total of 156 tied him for 30th with a group that included Lazzeri and Scalia.
Smoky Hill’s Paul Cleveland shot 79 and 82 to finish in a tie for 48th at 161.
Courtney Oakes is Sports Editor of the Aurora Sentinel. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or sports@aurorasentinel.com. Twitter: @aurorasports. Facebook: Aurora Prep Sentinel
2014 CLASS 5A BOYS STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT
At Colorado Springs Country Club
Team scores (par 213-213 — 426): 1. Coronado 226-220 — 446; T2. REGIS JESUIT (Kevin Shafer, Jack Lazzeri, Andrew McCormick, Bennett Rogers) 237-230 — 467; T2. Lakewood 241-226 — 467; T4. Boulder 236-234 — 470; T4. Highlands Ranch 230-240 — 470; T4. Ralston Valley 241-229 — 470; 7. CHEROKEE TRAIL (Bradley Scalia, Ji Woo Jang, Mitch Nevin, Zach Goldsmith) 237-235 — 472; 8. Doherty 242-235 — 477; 9. ThunderRidge 243-245 — 488; T10. Cherry Creek 242-248 — 490; T10. Columbine 253-237 — 490; 12. Mountain Vista 249-244 — 493; 13. Rock Canyon 253-247 — 500; 14. Loveland 249-258 — 507
Aurora individuals (par 71-71 — 142): T17. Kevin Shafer (Regis Jesuit) 78-74 — 152; T30. Davis Bryant (Eaglerest) 79-77 — 156; T30. Jack Lazzeri (Regis Jesuit) 81-75 — 156; T30. Bradley Scalia (Cherokee Trail) 81-75 — 156; T48. Paul Cleveland (Smoky Hill) 79-82 — 161; T53. Andrew McCormick (Regis Jesuit) 78-84 — 162; T58. Mitchell Nevin (Cherokee Trail) 88-75 — 163; T58. Ji Woo Jang (Cherokee Trail) 78-85 — 163; 63. Zach Goldsmith (Cherokee Trail) 78-86 — 164; T70. Bennett Rogers (Regis Jesuit) 86-81 — 167
Individuals (par 71-71 — 142): 1. Grant Olinger (Pomona) 76-67 — 143; 2. Isaac Petersillie (Coronado) 74-70 — 144; 3. Hunter Paugh (Fort Collins) 69-77 — 146; 4. Josh Hill (Monarch) 75-72 — 147; T5. Trevor Glen (Legacy) 74-74 — 148; T5. David Packer (Arapahoe) 70-78 — 148; T7. Evan Buchalski (Loveland) 75-74 — 149; T7. Daniel Pearson (Fairview) 74-75 — 149; T7. Li Chen (Legacy) 74-75 — 149; T10. AJ Ott (Fort Collins) 74-76 — 150; T10. Trevor Olkowski (Grand Junction) 73-77 — 150; T12. Austin Burgess (Coronado) 78-73 — 151; T12. Griffin Barela (Lakewood) 78-73 — 151; T12. Donny Kinnaman (Grand Junction) 76-75 — 151; T12. Roy Carlsen (Ralston Valley) 75-76 — 151; T12. Wes Moran (Coronado) 74-77 — 151
