Hoover leads Cougars to three top-10 finishes

The Niwot boys golf team completed the Greeley swing of their season last week, playing four tournaments in five days in and around Colorado’s twelfth most populous city, coming away with three top-ten finishes.

“I don’t want to say it was a grueling week,” said Cougar head coach Ed Weaver of his team’s early-season trek up north. “But there was a lot of golf.”

The team kicked off the week with back-to-back tournaments at Highland Hills golf course on Aug. 14 & 15. At the Greeley West Invitational on Monday, Niwot took tenth place out of 23 teams, led by junior Jack Hoover, who carded an eagle on the par-five fourth hole. He went on to shoot a 78 (+7), which was good for sixth place overall. Junior Andrew Elliott (+14) finished 26th overall while sophomore Sam Hoover (+22) was 54th and sophomore Luke Martinez was 86th (+46).

At Northern League Event #2 the following day, the Cougars took fourth overall, led again by Hoover (+12), who added five strokes to his score, but took sixth place again anyway. Elliott was right on his heels in seventh place with a second consecutive 85, while Sam Hoover took three shots off Monday’s score (+19), and finished in 13th place. Martinez, who was nine strokes better (+37), took 35th place.

After taking Wednesday off for the first day of school, Niwot was back on the links on Aug. 17 at the Eaton Invitational. Fielding just three players, the Cougars finished 17th in the 26-team tournament, which included Class 5A powerhouses Fossil Ridge and Mountain Range. Hoover shot seven pars and three consecutive birdies, but it was not enough to overcome a +5 on the par-three 15th hole, and the junior finished in 26th place, with 79 (+8). Sam Hoover (+14) was 45th, and freshman Luc Blondeau (+31) was 91st. Andrew Elliott, who is nursing a sore shoulder, should rejoin the team next week.

The Cougars wrapped up their week back in Greeley, at the Boomerang Links for Northern League Event #3, where they took tenth place. Hoover birdied his first two holes and was even over his final nine, but ended the day with another 79 (+7) after going +8 over six holes on the front nine. Weaver said he wasn’t especially concerned about the junior’s occasional stumbles, since he’s consistently placing among the top ten in tournaments.

“Jack knows what his challenges are,” he said, noting that the junior’s iron game has been “great” so far this season, but putting has been an issue at times. “He still shot a 79 and finished in seventh. Jack’s going to be fine.”

Sam Hoover (+18) was 26th on the day, while Blondeau (+28) was 45th, and Martinez (+40) was 62nd.

Overall, Weaver said he was happy with the team’s performance throughout the week, as well as their progress through the early part of the season. He was especially enthusiastic about Blondeau, who has been “shooting personal bests.”

“It’s been good,” he said. “Now they’re more tournament tough.”

On Aug. 22, Niwot hosts the season’s fourth league event at Twin Peaks golf course in Longmont, followed by League Event #5 at Sunset Golf Course on Aug. 24.

Greeley West Spartan Invitational, Highland Hills GC, Aug. 14

Team Scores — Boulder 230, Eaton 240, Fossil Ridge 240, Fairview 241, Legacy 241, Monarch 242, Fort Collins 248, Broomfield 248, Resurrection Christian 248, Niwot 256

Niwot Individuals — t6. Jack Hoover, 78; t28. Andrew Elliott, 85; t54. Sam Hoover 93; 86. Luke Martinez 114

Greeley Central Invitational (League Event #2), Highland Hills GC, Aug. 15

Team Scores — Thompson Valley 228, Mountain View 246, Eaton 251, Frontier Academy 261, Loveland 261, Silver Creek 266, Northridge 267, Rock Canyon 273, Longmont 281, Niwot 281

Niwot Individuals — 6. Jack Hoover 83; t7. Andrew Elliott, 85; 13. Sam Hoover 90; 35. Luke Martinez 108

Eaton Invitational, Eaton Country Club, Aug. 17

Team Scores — Fossil Ridge 220, Sterling 221, Eaton 227, Mountain Range 230, Mountain View 237, Berthoud 238, Holy Family 241, Loveland 246, Windsor 248, Frontier Academy 248, Resurrection Christian 249, Dawson Academy 251, Fort Collins 252, Poudre 257, Strasburg 264, Horizon 265, Niwot, 266, Rocky Mountain 270, Greeley West 270, Brush 273, Roosevelt 273, Estes Park 274, Silver Creek 281, Yuma 285, Northridge 301, Holyoke 311

Niwot Individuals — 26. Jack Hoover 79; 45. Sam Hoover 85; 35. Luc Blondeau, 102

Grizzly Invitational (League Event #3), Boomerang Links, Aug. 18

Team Scores — Thompson Valley 228, Mountain View 246, Eaton 251, Frontier Academy 261, Loveland 261, Silver Creek 266, Northridge 267, Rock Canyon 273, Longmont 281, Niwot 281, Centaurus 285, Brush 286, Fort Morgan 290, Greeley Central 291

Niwot Individuals — t7. Jack Hoover 79; t26. Sam Hoover 90; t45. Luc Blondeau 100; t62. Luke Martinez 112; Andrew Elliott, WD.