AURORA | The first Centennial League boys golf tournament of the season Thursday at Meadow Hills Golf Course produced mixed, but not unfamiliar, results.
Defending league champion Cherry Creek cruised to an 11-shot victory over Arapahoe — last season’s runner-up — while the big riser was Cherokee Trail, Aurora’s top finisher in third place.
Despite a 1-over-par 73 by senior Devyn Solano that tied for the third best individual score, Grandview opened the season slowly with a fourth place finish.
Cherokee Trail had a promising start to the new season, posting its best finish since the second of five league tournaments last season.
Coach Troy Flores already had two 5A state qualifiers back from last season in senior Ben Knapp and junior Mitchell Nevin, but it was his young newcomers who rose to the occasion in their first varsity tournaments.
Sophomore Ji Woo Jang, who came out for golf for the first time this season, led the Cougars with a 75, while freshman Brad Scalia had a 77 and junior Zach Goldsmith a 79.
“We had just one senior out there, so it’s really exciting to have young kids out there playing well,” Flores said.
Grandview coach Randy Smith had Solano playing in the No. 2 position since he missed tryouts while playing in a summer tournament, but his returning state qualifier played like a No. 1 with his 73.
Freshman Danny Taggart — younger brother of former Wolves standout Bobby Taggart — came in with a 79, while senior Kyle Carr shot an 83 playing in the top group.
Among other Aurora highlights, sophomore Paul Cleveland shot an 81 to lead Smoky Hill, senior Joe Slocum — Overland’s only varsity player — carded an 84 and senior Isaiah Dixon’s 86 paced Eaglecrest.
The next Centennial League tournament is Aug. 15 at Saddle Rock G.C.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555. Follow @aurorasports on Twitter and find the Aurora Prep Sentinel page on facebook.
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE MEET NO. 1
Aug. 8 at Meadow Hills G.C.
Team scores: 1. Cherry Creek 291; 2. Arapahoe 302; 3. CHEROKEE TRAIL 311; 4. GRANDVIEW 319; 5. Mullen 327; 6. SMOKY HILL 364; 7. EAGLECREST 403; 8. OVERLAND NS
Top 10 individuals: 1. Subin Lee (Cherry Creek) 70; 2. Sam Marley (Arapahoe) 71; T3. DEVYN SOLANO (GRANDVIEW) 73; T3. Jackson Burke (Cherry Creek) 73; T3. Cole Edwards (Cherry Creek) 73; T6. JI WOO JANG (CHEROKEE TRAIL) 75; T6. Kobe Padilla (Cherry Creek) 75; T8. Kyle Taylor (Arapahoe) 76; T8. Austin Lienemann (Arapahoe) 76; T10. BRAD SCALIA (CHEROKEE TRAIL) 77, T10. Will Matthews (Cherry Creek) 77; T10. Evan Redd (Mullen) 77
AURORA SCORES BY TEAM
Cherokee Trail: Ji Woo Jang 75, Brad Scalia 77, Zach Goldsmith 79, Mitchell Nevin 80, Ben Knapp 93; Eaglecrest: Isaiah Dixon 86, Thomas Logan 101, Ryan Beaulieu 107, Zach Ellis 109, Devon Hester 121; Grandview: Devyn Solano 73, Danny Taggart 79, Kyle Carr 83, Chad Tam 84, Nate Lewis 95; Overland: Joe Slocum 84; Smoky Hill: Paul Cleveland 81, Jonathan Cook 93, Parker Friedentag 95, Blake Foerster 95, Kyle Colen 96
OTHER SCORES BY TEAM
Arapahoe: Sam Marley 71, Kyle Taylor 76, Austin Lienemann 76, Russell Otten 79, Henry Schaefer 82; Cherry Creek: Subin Lee 70, Jackson Burke 73, Cole Edwards 73, Kobe Padilla 75, Will Matthews 77; Mullen: Evan Redd 77, Harris Butler 79, Michael Phenicie 83, Mark Champine 88, Chandler Wilson 88