Cougar boys golf finishes strong ahead of Regional Tournament

In their final tournament before regionals, the Niwot High School boys golf team delivered an impressive performance at the Longmont Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 17, held at the Twin Peaks Golf Course.

Niwot fielded two teams, which finished third and seventh in the overall standings. Resurrection Christian took home the top spot, with Monarch High School coming in second.

Leading the Cougars was senior Drew Stapp, who finished third overall with a stellar score of 69, continuing his consistent season. Junior Will Jones followed closely, securing ninth place with a score of 72, while junior Jackson Sessa placed fourteenth, shooting a solid 74, and senior Jagger Kilpatrick carded a 75 for sixteenth place. Rounding out the top performers for the Cougars was junior Moses Lance, who finished twenty-fourth with a score of 76.

This tournament marked the end of the regular season for Niwot, and now the team sets its sights on the Regional Tournament on Oct. 1 at the Foothills Golf Course in south Denver. Head Coach Ed Weaver is feeling confident as the team moves into the postseason.

Reflecting on the regular season, Weaver expressed his satisfaction with how his team performed. "I think we had a really good regular season," he said. "We had a lot of good scorers, and the guys played well. We were in a tough league, but we're in a good position heading into the Regional Tournament."

The Cougars' regional team will consist of Stapp, Sessa, Kilpatrick, and Lance. The tournament will be a crucial moment for the team. Originally, Niwot was scheduled to compete in Montrose, but a shift in regions allowed the team to be relocated to Denver. This shift also improved Niwot's seeding, moving them from third to second in their region. "If we play our game, we should at least finish second," Weaver noted. "If we play well, we should win the region."

Weaver is also focused on qualifying a team of four for the State Tournament on Oct. 7 and 8 at the Tiara Rado Golf Course in Redlands. Based on strong performances from his players throughout the regular season, Weaver is "confident we'll send all four of our guys to State."

With their regular season behind them, the Cougars will now focus on making the most of their Regional Tournament, hoping to punch their ticket to the State Tournament. The team's strong finish and Weaver's confidence have set the stage for what could be an exciting postseason.