Regional provides relief for Cheyenne Mountain

There was no disappointment this time around for Cheyenne Mountain.

A year after watching their regular-season dominance fizzle in a district performance that left them out of the state tournament, the Indians qualified all four golfers for state with a team victory on their home course.

“It’s such a big relief after last year,” said Wilson Belk, whose 2-under-par 69 placed him second Tuesday at the Country Club of Colorado behind only the 65 carded by Pueblo South’s Jimmy Mackloski.

Cole Anderson added a 71 and Dan Belk came in at 75 as Cheyenne Mountain posted a 215 to beat Pueblo South by two strokes. Alex Freimuth also shot 78 and would have qualified individually had he not been part of the four-member team that will go to the Oct. 1-2 state tournament at Cobble Creek Golf Course in Montrose.

Pueblo South also qualifies as a team, as the top two finishers take all four members.

Last year — despite winning league by 112 strokes — the Indians placed third in the regional and could not compete for a state title.

Avoiding that fate was the goal for this season, even if wasn’t something that was ever mentioned.

“I didn’t have to say anything,” said coach Bill Paulson, whose team wrapped up a 115-stroke league title as Tuesday’s event doubled as a league tournament to make up for last week’s rainout at the same course. “They were all there, except Jack Stimple (who is now playing at Creighton). We tried to be low key and not put any more pressure than was already internally there with them.”

Pressure mounted after a sluggish start, coupled with a blazing first six holes that saw Mackloski drop to 5 under.

But Wilson Belk birdied Nos. 6, 7, 8 and 10 and Anderson climbed back to even after shooting 3-over on the front.

With two holes remaining Paulson let the players know where they stood. At that point, qualifying for state wasn’t really in question — but beating Pueblo South certainly was.

From there, Anderson drained a 9-foot par putt on No. 17 and a 12-foot birdie putt on 18 to provide the winning margin.

“It was nice to have a good tournament when it matters,” said Anderson, who qualified for state last year but was disappointed by his tie for 71st. “I’m pumped. I can’t wait. I’m a much different golfer this year than I was last year.”

Cheyenne Mountain wasn’t alone in experiencing relief at the close of the round.

Sand Creek senior Justin Watson, who was in the running for a league title throughout the year, nervously waited to see if his 82 would extend his season.

It did, as the cut line was at 83.

Other area qualifiers included a number of underclassmen. Wilson Belk and Anderson are both sophomores, as is Vista Ridge’s Dylan Hall (78). Three freshmen also qualified, as Coronado’s Isaac Petersilie shot 79 and Mesa Ridge’s Braden Bentley shot 82. Another Coronado freshman, Austin Burgess, was the last man standing after a three-man elimination playoff for the first alternate among three who shot 84. Burgess will also be at state, as Pueblo South's No. 4 player shot 98 and wasn't within 10 of the cut and therefore did not qualify.

Other qualifiers included Discovery Canyon’s Jacob Trujillo (78), Palmer Ridge’s Cale Brandt (82) and Lewis-Palmer’s Logan Bryson (83). Air Academy qualified Lucas Rockwell and (81) and Zach Pape (83).

Pape didn’t play the first three league events.

“He just quietly worked his way up,” longtime Kadets coach Wayne Marshall said. “When we got ready to pick the kids to see who was going to regionals, we were kind of shocked that Zack had beat a couple of the other guys. But he’s earned it.”

There’s no doubt the Indians earned the right to finally put last year’s disappointment in the past.

“We had something to prove,” Paulson said. “To have the great year we had last year and then do what we did at regionals, that left a pretty bad taste in our mouths. This was a big weight off of our shoulders.”

4A Southern Region

State qualifiers

At the Country Club of Colorado

Jimmy Mackloski, Pueblo South           65

Wilson Belk, Cheyenne Mountain         69

Cole Anderson, Cheyenne Mountain     71

Glenn Workman, Pueblo West  72

Dan Belk, Cheyenne Mountain  75

Chase Federico, Pueblo South  75

Jacob Allenback, Pueblo Centennial      76

Justin Allenback, Pueblo Centennial      76

Taylor Rodriguez, Pueblo South            77

Dylan Hall, Vista Ridge 78

Alex Freimuth, Cheyenne Mountain       78

Sebastian Erlacher, Pueblo East            78

Eli Schoenbeck, Pueblo West   78

Jacob Trujillo, Discovery Canyon          78

Isaac Petersilie, Coronado        79

Dwayne Skolsk, Canon City     81

Dylan Swanson, Pueblo East     81

Lucas Rockwell, Air Academy  81

Cale Brandt, Palmer Ridge        82

Michael Kerr, Canon City         82

Justin Watson, Sand Creek       82

Braden Bentley, Mesa Ridge     82

Dylan Cresswell, Pueblo East                82

Logan Bryson, Lewis-Palmer    83

Zach Pape, Air Academy          83

*Austin Burgess, Coronado      84

*Won playoff as first alternate

4A Pikes Peak Athletic Conference

Final standings

Individual

Players use their top four scores from the five league events

Cole Anderson, Cheyenne Mountain     xx-71-74-72-71—288

Wilson Belk, Cheyenne Mountain         74-xx-72-75-69—290

Justin Watson, Sand Creek       73-xx-70-80-82—305

Dan Belk, Cheyenne Mountain  76-79-76-xx-75—306

Dylan Hall, Vista Ridge 77-xx-75-77-78—307

Jacob Trujillo, Discovery Canyon          xx-83-77-81-78—319

Dean Hall, Vista Ridge  xx-79-79-79-84—321

Matt Vogeney, Air Academy    90-83-81-77-xx—331

Marcus Fenimore, Lewis-Palmer          82-xx-83-78-88—331

Cale Brandt, Palmer Ridge        82-92-xx-77-82—333

Team

Team totals are figured from top three scores from each league event

Cheyenne Mountain      1118

Vista Ridge       1233

Air Academy    1244

Sand Creek      1305

Palmer Ridge    1313

Lewis-Palmer   1362

Falcon  1393