The Regis Jesuit boys golf team extended its reign of of dominance to three seasons Oct. 2.
The Raiders topped Ralston Valley by eight shots after two days of play at the Class 5A boys state golf tournament at Golden’s Rolling Hills Country Club, giving coach Craig Rogers’ team a championship three-peat.
The Regis Jesuit team of Spencer Painton, Cole Cunningham, Chris Korte and Jake Kelley posted a two-round total of 446 to win easily over Ralston Valley and rival Cherry Creek, which took the Raiders to a playoff for the 2011 championship.
Painton appeared in his second state tournament but first for Regis Jesuit, as he qualified in 2010 while at Grandview.
The junior made the most of his return, tying for second place with Monarch’s Eric Chen, as each carded 4-over-par 146. The duo was one shot behind individual medalist Kyler Dunkle of Douglas County.
Painton had two birdies on his way to a first-round 75, but dropped four strokes in the second round thanks to an eagle and a pair of birdies. Painton’s eagle 2 came on the par-4 hole No. 2, a 374-yard hole he’d bogeyed the previous day.
Cunningham had designs on a run at the individual state championship, but a tough opening round took him out of the hunt. The senior rebounded with a steady round of 2-over 73 — which included a pair of birdies — and finished in a four-way tie for sixth-place.
It was Cunningham’s third top-six showing in his three trips to state, as he was third as a sophomore and tied for fifth in 2011.
In his first trip to state, Korte turned in 75s in both of his rounds, earning his way into the four-way tie with Cunningham and two others for sixth. Korte avoided trouble for most of the tournament, carding just one double bogey over 36 holes.
Kelley turned in 78s in each round and finished in a tie for 17th place overall. He started strong out of the gates, rolling in birdies on his first two holes and three total on the front nine in his opening round, but took three double bogeys on the final five holes to finish plus-7 for the day.
Grandview junior Deyvn Solano went into the state tournament seeking a top 10 finish, but his first appearance yielded a 40th-place result. He was in position after he shot a 75 in the opening round, but an 89 in the second round brought him in with a total of 24-over 164.
The Cherokee Trail duo of sophomore Mitch Nevin and junior Ben Knapp finished four strokes apart, with Nevin taking 72nd place with a final score of 38-over 180, courtesy of 90 in each round. Knapp dropped two strokes in his second round and finished at 181.
Both Cougars made their first state tournament appearance.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
2012 CLASS 5A BOYS STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT
OCT. 1-2 AT ROLLING HILLS C.C. (PAR 71)
TEAM SCORES: 1. Regis Jesuit (Spencer Painton, Cole Cunningham, Chris Korte, Jake Kelley) 446; 2. Ralston Valley 454; 3. Cherry Creek 464; T4. Boulder 468; T4. Douglas Co. 468; 6. Arapahoe 474; 7. Rock Canyon 476; 8. Columbine 480; 9. Fruita 492; 10. Heritage 498; 11. ThunderRidge 508; T12. Pine Creek 515; T12. Arvada West 515; 14. Pomona 539
AURORA INDIVIDUALS: T2. Spencer Painton (Regis Jesuit) 146; T6. Cole Cunningham (Regis Jesuit) 150; T6. Chris Korte (Regis Jesuit) 150; T17. Jake Kelley (Regis Jesuit) 156; T40. Devyn Solano (Grandview) 164; 72. Mitch Nevin (Cherokee Trail) 180; 76. Ben Knapp (Cherokee Trail) 184
