Niwot boys golf starts with a win

Niwot High School Golf Coach Ed Weaver was hoping that the first tournament of the 2023 season would give him a glimpse into how his team stacked up against its Longs Peak Conference competition, especially perennial powerhouse Riverdale Ridge High School. Based on the results, Weaver has reason to be optimistic about what lies ahead for this team.

At last Thursday's Pace o' Play Palooza tournament at Mariana Butte Golf Course in Loveland, the Cougars battled the Riverdale Ravens, the 2021 4A state champions and 2022 4A state runners-up, to a first-place tie in the 11-team event with three-golfer total scores of 222. Perhaps just as impressive was the fact that all five Cougars who participated in the varsity tournament shot in the 70s on the picturesque, par-72 course.

"It was a great start for this team," Weaver said. "And, still, I think the guys saw that there is room for improvement, so that's encouraging. But having five guys in the 70s is, I won't say it's unheard of, but it is pretty rare."

The Cougars were led by senior Emmett Shell, who finished in second place overall with a 1-under 70, just one stroke behind Riverdale Ridge junior Carter Seis, who finished with a 69. Shell finished the front nine one stroke under par despite a double bogey on the par-4 seventh hole where he lipped out his bogey putt. He finished with five birdies on the round.

Sophomore Sawyer Bennett persevered through an up-and-down round that saw him at one point atop the leaderboard at two under par after nine holes. He missed birdie putts on holes 10 and 11 which could have extended his lead, but then disaster struck on the par-5 13th hole where he carded a penalty-induced 10. For many golfers, young and old, that would have been too much to overcome mentally, but Bennett righted the ship and finished even par over the final five holes for a solid round of 75.

"These guys have to learn how to deal with adversity," Weaver explained. "That's one of golf's biggest lessons. I give him (Bennett) a lot of credit. He's going to be an interesting kid to watch this season because he can play."

Another sophomore, Jackson Sessa, produced the third round that contributed to the first-place team total. Sessa, the lone Niwot representative in last year's 4A state tournament as a freshman, was just one stroke behind Bennett at 4-over 76. Juniors Drew Stapp and Devin Farahani completed the Cougars' impressive finish of all players in the 70s, carding 77 and 78, respectively.

Also on Thursday, across town at Loveland's Cattail Creek Golf Course, the Cougars' junior varsity team took first and second places in a two-person, 9-hole scramble on the par 3 course. Brighton Langenegger and Owen Lipinski combined for three under par to take the title, edging out teammates Jagger Kilpatrick and Will Jones, who finished one stroke behind.

Weaver planned for all five varsity players, plus the four junior varsity top finishers at Cattail and Sebastian Bennett to round out a 10-player team for the Spartan Invitational at Highland Hills Golf Course in Greeley on Aug. 7.

"I was lucky to be able to get all 10 players into the field," Weaver said. "This is a great opportunity to get more tournament experience for all these guys because that's really the key to a successful high school season. Don't get me wrong, they all need practice time but it's definitely more fun to play in these events."