It may not have been nearly of the magnitude of Arnold Palmer’s final-round comeback in the 1960 U.S. Open at Cherry Hills, but similar to “The King”, Grant Olinger of Pomona rallied from seven shots behind going into the last 18 holes to claim the individual title in the 5A boys state high school tournament at Colorado Springs Country Club.
The senior shot a bogey-free round of 4-under-par 67 on Tuesday — the best score of the tournament by two strokes — to erase the big deficit and prevail by one shot.
“It’s not my lowest round — I’ve had a 65 before in a tournament,” Olinger said. “But this one feels a lot better. It’s my best round, I would say.”
Playing in the seventh-to-last group and starting almost an hour before the round 1 leaders, Olinger birdied the third, fifth, 11th and 17th holes while those under par after Monday slowly came back to the pack. By following up his first-day 76 with a 67, Olinger finished at 1-over-par 143 overall.
Even Olinger himself seemed a little taken aback by his comeback. After all, not only was he seven out of the lead, but he was in 15th place.
“I knew if I shot under par, I’d be top-10,” said Olinger (left and above), who placed 14th at state last year. “But I didn’t think I could get a chance (at the win) if I was that far back. I knew it would take something really low — one of my best rounds ever.”
Junior Isaac Petersilie of Coronado, who won the 4A state title last year, shot a 70 on Tuesday to check in one stroke behind Olinger. First-round leader Hunter Paugh (left) of Fort Collins held the top spot through 11 holes, but played his final seven in 3 over par to finish with a 77 and in third place, at 146 overall.
With Petersilie leading the way, Coronado claimed its first state team championship in golf, with the win coming in the school’s hometown. With daily totals of 226 and 220, CHS posted a 21-stroke team victory over co-runners-up Regis Jesuit and Lakewood. Regis had won the previous four 5A titles.
“It was really good because a lot of the guys came up clutch today,” Petersilie said. “That was really good to see. And also, it’s the first (state golf title) for Coronado.”
Joining Petersilie on the state championship team (left) were Wes Moran (151 total), Austin Burgess (151) and Luke Travins (158).
While Petersilie obviously relished winning the team championship, he would have loved to double up by claiming a second individual title. But two double bogeys in the final six holes on Monday proved difficult to overcome.
“I’m a little disappointed,” he said. “But kudos to (Olinger). He played real well and made a birdie on 17 coming in. And I was happy with the way I played. I was consistent all day. “
Indeed, Olinger’s 20-foot birdie putt on the par-3 17th proved the difference between an outright win and a playoff.
So what turned Olinger around so much from Monday (76) to Tuesday (67)?
“I made a lot more putts, I hit a lot more greens, I hit a lot better shots,” he said. “And the swing felt a lot better today.
“I was a lot closer to the hole on every iron shot and wedge. That really helped. You really need to do that to shoot a good out here.”
It also didn’t hurt that Olinger was removed from the pressure and the spotlight of the final several groups during the final round. He admitted as much.
Olinger hopes to play college golf, though he isn’t sure where that might be. But it’s safe to say that Tuesday’s round — which produced his third individual victory this season — might translate into some opportunities.
But for now, he’s just relishing becoming a state champion.
“It feels really good,” he said. “It means a lot of hard work paid off. I worked real hard this summer and played in a lot of tournaments. Then this week I worked my butt off getting my swing dialed in.
“I really wanted to win. That’s why I was working so hard this year, because I felt like I had a chance to. That made it a little easier today.”
Rodriguez Overcomes Leaders, Valor Repeats as 4A Team Champ: Valor Christian placed all four of its players in the top six individually at the 4A state tournament at Walking Stick in Pueblo, but the top spot went to Taylor Rodriguez of Pueblo South on Tuesday.
Rodriguez fired his second consecutive 3-under-par 69 to overcome a two-stroke deficit entering the day and post a two-shot win.
Rodriguez bogeyed his final two holes on Tuesday, but he’d given himself a cushion by playing the previous 12 holes in 5 under.
Valor senior Jake Staiano, who will play his college golf at Colorado State, placed second on Tuesday after coming in fourth a year ago. After being the co-leader following round 1, Staiano carded a 1-over 73 on Tuesday for a 140 total.
University of Colorado-bound teammate Ross Macdonald, winner of the last two CGA Junior Stroke Play titles, came in third at 142 after a 70 on Tuesday.
Valor’s Coby Welch, who shared the top spot with Staiano after Monday, struggled to a 79 on Tuesday and shared fourth place with Braden Bentley of Mesa Ridge (71-75).
The fourth Valor player, Pierce Aichinger, who’s headed to CU, tied for sixth place at 147 with Steamboat Springs’ Britt Walton.
With an 8-under-par 424 team total, Valor Christian easily won its second consecutive 4A state team title, this one coming by 23 strokes over runner-up Pueblo South. Valor has claimed four state golf championships since 2009.
Dawson’s Kim Wins 3-Man Playoff in 3A: Yale Kim of the Dawson School in Lafayette parred the fourth playoff hole to win the 3A state high school title at Northeastern 18 in Sterling on Tuesday.
In a three-man playoff, first-round leader Trey Lambrecht of host Sterling bowed out with a triple bogey on the first extra hole. Then Kim earned the championship with a par on playoff hole No. 4 when Cooper Gould of Vail Christian made bogey.
Kim and Gould shot consecutive rounds of 1-over-par 73 for 2-over 146 totals. Lambrecht, who led by three after day 1, needed a birdie on his final hole of regulation to shoot a 78 and join the playoff.
Max Messner of Colorado Academy claimed fourth place after going 71-76. Cole Folwell of the Dawson School recorded his second top-five finish at state in two years by placing fifth, at 148.
Sterling, playing in its hometown, won its first state golf title. Its 459 total was five better than runner-up Kent Denver.
Scores: For scores from the three state tournaments, click on the following: 5A, 4A, 3A.
