Niwot boys golf: regular season ends, team looks ahead to Regionals

The Niwot boys golf team wrapped up its regular season on Sept. 8 at Northern League tournament #7, held at Ute Creek Golf Course in Longmont. Senior Max Keusel (+6) finished sixth overall, leading the Cougars to a tie for third place in team scoring. Sophomore Andrew Elliot (+11) finished in a tie for 14th place, while senior Jake Butler (+12) tied sophomore teammate Jack Hoover for 17th.

The Ute Creek tournament marked the end of a busy two weeks for the Cougar golf team. On August 23rd, Niwot hosted Northern League tournament #4 at Twin Peaks Golf Course in Longmont, finishing third overall. They placed 5th at the league’s next match, on August 25th at Sunset Golf Course, despite a strong third place individual finish by Butler.

The league’s next varsity tournament was held Sept. 6 at Indian Peaks in Lafayette. There, Niwot rebounded, tying Thompson Valley for second place in team scoring. Three Cougars finished among the top 15 individuals, including Elliot (6th), Keusel (11th), and Butler (13th).

Niwot finished the season in third place in the 4A Northern League, behind powerhouses Silver Creek and Thompson Valley. Coach Ed Weaver was pragmatic about the season’s outcome and his team’s overall performance.

“We got third behind two very talented and very deep teams,” he said. “I feel good about where we’re at now.”

With league play now over, Weaver is preparing his team for the Class 4A Regional tournament, which will be held Sept. 19 at Boomerang Links Golf Course in Greeley. Niwot placed third at a league event held there earlier this season, and Weaver likes his team’s chances for success.

“It certainly bodes well for us,” he said. “We’re a little bit of a wildcard going in, but anything can happen in a one-day tournament, and our guys certainly have the capability to compete with anyone.”

The Class 4A state tournament is scheduled for September 26-27, at the River Valley Ranch Golf Course in Carbondale.

League Event #4, Twin Peaks Golf Course, Longmont

Team Scores — Silver Creek (307); Thompson Valley (318); Niwot (336); Northridge (350); Greeley Central (358); Mountain View (362); Fort Morgan (368); Centaurus (379); Longmont (417).

Top Individuals — Darren Edwards, Thompson Valley, 70; Brady Henderson, Fort Morgan, 73; Jackson Solem, Silver Creek, 74; T. J. Shehee, Silver Creek, 76; Nathan Dwyer, Thompson Valley, 77; Garrett Stansel, Silver Creek, 77; Connor Burke, Northridge, 78; Drew Mettler, Mountain View, 78; Max Kuesel, Niwot, 78; Dietrich Berning, Silver Creek, 80.

Niwot Individuals — t7. Max Kuesel (Sr.), 78; t12. Jake Butler (Sr.), 81; 18. Jack Hoover (So.), 88; t19. Andrew Elliott (So.), 89; 31.Jackson Keener (So.), 95.

League Event #5, Sunset Golf Course, Longmont

Team Scores — Silver Creek (298); Thompson Valley (329); Northridge (332); Mountain View (342); Niwot (343); Fort Morgan (350); Centaurus (383); Longmont (437).

Top Individuals — Jackson Solem, Silver Creek, 64; Darren Edwards, Thompson Valley, 70; Jake Butler, Niwot, 72; T. J. Shehee, Silver Creek, 74; Nathan Dwyer, Thompson Valley, 75; Connor Burke, Northridge, 76; Garrett Stansel, Silver Creek, 77; Brady Henderson, Fort Morgan, 79; Isaac Oberg, Fort Morgan, 79; Wes Weber, Mountain View, 80.

Niwot Individuals — 3. Jake Butler (Sr.), 72; t15. Jack Hoover (So.), 86; 22. Andrew Elliott (So.), 89;

27. Sam Hoover (Fr.), 96; 28. Max Kuesel (Sr.), 97.

League Event #6, Indian Peaks Golf Course, Lafayette

Team Scores — Silver Creek (308); Niwot (328); Thompson Valley (328); Northridge (336); Mountain View (345); Greeley Central (350); Centaurus (358); Fort Morgan (367); Longmont (455).

Top Individuals — Jackson Solem, Silver Creek, 73; Darren Edwards, Thompson Valley , 73; Connor Burke, Northridge, 75; Nick Vaver, Centaurus, 77; Wes Weber, Mountain View , 77; T. J. Shehee, Silver Creek, 78; Garrett Stansel, Silver Creek, 78; Andrew Elliott, Niwot, 78; Brady Henderson, Fort Morgan, 78; Nathan Dwyer, Thompson Valley , 78.

Niwot Individuals — t6. Andrew Elliott (So.), 78; t11. Max Kuesel (Sr.), 79; 13. Jake Butler (Sr.), 81; t22. Jack Hoover (So.), 90; t32. Jackson Keener (So.), 95.

League Event #7, Ute Creek Golf Course, Longmont

Team Scores — Silver Creek (308); Thompson Valley (326); Northridge (329); Niwot (329); Greeley Central (345); Mountain View (345); Fort Morgan (362); Centaurus (408); Longmont (422).

Top Individuals — Darren Edwards, Thompson Valley , 71; Jackson Solem, Silver Creek , 72; Garrett Stansel, Silver Creek , 74; Wes Weber, Mountain View , 74; Connor Burke, Northridge , 76; Max Kuesel, Niwot , 77; Connor Lattimer, Northridge , 79; T. J. Shehee, Silver Creek , 79; Nathan Dwyer, Thompson Valley , 79; Drew Sedinger, Greeley Central , 80.

Niwot Individuals —

6. Max Kuesel (Sr.), 78; t14. Andrew Elliott (So.), 83; t17. Jake Butler (Sr.), 84; t17. Jack Hoover (So.), 84; t30. Sam Hoover (Fr.), 97.