Niwot boys clinch berth to Class 4A state championships

The Niwot boys golf team is heading back to the Class 4A championships, after a rock steady round at the Region 3 qualifying tournament on Sept. 21. Behind clutch putting from Christopher Gunlikson and some well-timed consistency from his teammates, the Cougars finished second overall out of a 16-team field, and secured an elusive team bid to the state tournament for the first time since 2017. For seventh-year head coach Ed Weaver, the Cougars' proficient performance was gratifying on several levels.

"It was a lot of fun," Weaver said of the regional tournament, held at Highland Hills golf course in Greeley. "I think everybody was prepared for the course, because we played it twice earlier this year. And I think they were deliberate or intentional about when they got in trouble to just get out, and save themselves from making big numbers. And that strategy worked really well."

Which is not to say there was no drama in Greeley. As the players were wrapping up their rounds, Niwot was holding off Windsor and closing in on leader Riverdale Ridge, with only Gunlikson still on the course. He was just three over, but had three bogeys on the back nine. To stay in contention, Niwot needed a par or better from the senior on the 18th hole. Much to Weaver's relief, Gunlikson went on to sink a "longish" putt to card a 4, and punched Niwot's ticket to the next level with two strokes to spare.

The memorable moment was also much to Gunlikson's relief. High-pressure situations haven't always been his strong suit, but that wasn't the case in his fourth and final regional appearance for the Cougars, a round he said was "my favorite of my entire high school career."

"I played well under pressure. They told me on the last hole that if I made par or birdie, all four of us would be going to state. So when I made it, I was super happy about it."

Gunlikson ended the day with a 74 (+3), which was good for second place overall. He will be making his third trip to the championships, but the first with his teammates along for the trip. Both he and Weaver are looking forward to a more competitive round in 2021, after disappointing finishes during his two prior state appearances.

"I think this year he's grown mentally," Weaver said of the fourth-year varsity golfer. "He's always had the physical swing and the ability. But to get to that next level, a lot of it's just mental."

Coming in behind Gunlikson was sophomore teammate Emmett Shell with a 75 (+4) that was good for third place overall. Like his senior teammate's, most of Shell's improvement has been in decision-making and attitude, Weaver said, which should bode well for him in the sport's biggest event.

"He's got all the physical abilities, he's just got to learn to play on the course. He played a very smart round at regionals, and it showed."

Also playing for Niwot was number-three Carlos Kipkorir, who turned in one of his best rounds of the season, with an 84 (+13) to finish 25th. Likewise, freshman Drew Stapp carded an 87 (+16) on the day, for a 35th-place finish.

The 2021 Class 4A golf championships are slated for Denver's City Park golf course on Oct. 4-5. Though excited about their performance at regionals, Weaver has measured expectations for the Cougars at state, since the competitive atmosphere tends to be unfriendly to newcomers.

"It's a different environment, and the kids are going to put more pressure on themselves," he said. "I'm mostly concerned that they get the experience, and learn how to play at that level. If they do well, absolutely great. If they don't, I'm not that concerned about it, because I really want them to get the experience."