Russell Einspahr may not have been overly thrilled with how the Class 5A Metro West Regional boys golf tournament came together, but his most important objective was still accomplished.
One week to the day after a career performance landed him the 5A Jeffco individual medalist crown, Einspahr shot a 6-over-par 78 on Monday, Sept. 22, at Fox Hollow Golf Course in Lakewood, securing his place in the 5A state golf championships for the third consecutive year.
“This year I think I should be able to treat it just like any other day, any other tournament,” said Einspahr, who recorded back-to-back rounds of 84 as a junior at state in Fort Collins. “Hopefully I can play a little better.”
Einspahr tied for sixth place overall with his 78 on Monday. Brighton’s Alex Eisenach, who was in the lead foursome with Einspahr, was the only golfer to conquer Fox Hollow, finishing at 1-under on the day to win individual medalist honors.
“He (Eisenach) played well. He got some good breaks and took advantage of it,” Einspahr said. “He didn’t really put himself in trouble, but I’m not competing against him. I’m just trying to do the best I can.”
Chatfield won the regional crown with a team score of 233. Brighton took second with a 235. Both schools qualified their teams for state. Pomona’s Aaron Martinez shot a 1-over 73 to finish second, followed by Bear Creek’s Dan Kramer and Chatfield’s Micah Ramirez, who were 4-over-par.
“The first four holes, those were bad holes,” Kramer said. “But after that I was getting more confidence and I loosened (up) and just played really well.”
Ralston Valley, who won the 5A Jeffco League team title, will only send Kevin Forey (77) and Taylor Gillach (78) to the state tournament Oct. 6 and 7 at the USAFA Eisenhower Golf Club in Colorado Springs. Green Mountain’s Shay Lynes (78) and Max Nolan (78), along with Pomona’s Jordan Joseph (79), also qualified for state.
Dakota Ridge’s Dustin Baker won a three-way playoff to nab the final individual qualifying spot.
Einspahr may have been breathing a sigh of relief at the end of his round. He bogeyed the final three holes of the front nine on the Links course, and had a double-bogey on the fifth hole of the back nine on the Meadow course.
He wasn’t the only golfer in his foursome to struggle with that particular hole. Ralston Valley’s Cassius Kellogg also took a double bogey and Dakota Ridge’s Cody Vance, who nearly won the league crown in Jeffco, four-putted the hole for a quadruple bogey that ultimately cost him a chance at state.
“I thought it was supposed to be one of the easier holes on the course,” Einspahr said. “I just kind of tugged the 8-iron a little bit from 150 (yards) out, and got a little too cute with my first chip shot. I hit a good putt; I just didn’t get the drop.”
Einspahr defeated Vance in a playoff Sept. 15 after shooting a 69 at The Meadows Golf Course to tie the junior in the final Jeffco League meet of the season.
“That was a big boost, because it was my first time breaking 70 in a competitive round,” Einspahr said.
Kramer finished 26th in Jeffco this season and had only broken 80 once in six league tournaments. Playing on the Bears’ home course though, he shot rounds of 38 on both Links and Meadow to punch his ticket to state for the first time.
“I usually am not the greatest putter, but I was putting really well today,” the junior said. “It was amazing.”
Class 5A Metro West Regional @ Fox Hollow Golf Course
(Top two teams qualify for state — Oct. 6 and 7 in Colorado Springs)
Team results
Chatfield 233, Brighton 235, Standley Lake 236, Pomona 237, Ralston Valley 238, Green Mountain 239, Dakota Ridge 240, Columbine 243, Bear Creek 247, Lakewood 253, Arvada West 253, Adams City 267, Aurora Central 239, Westminster 305, Hinkley 349.
Individuals (state qualifiers)
Alex Eisenach, Brighton, 71
Aaron Martinez, Pomona, 73
Dan Kramer, Bear Creek, 76
Micah Ramirez, Chatfield, 76
Steven Mauser, Standley Lake, 77
Grant Wozencroft, Chatfield, 77
Kevin Forey, Ralston Valley, 77
Russell Einspahr, Arvada West, 78
Shay Lynes, Green Mountain, 78
Max Nolan, Green Mountain, 78
Taylor Gillach, Ralston Valley, 78
Joe Schmidt, Columbine, 79
Zach Tripp, Dakota Ridge, 79
Jordan Joseph, Pomona, 79
Kyle Roll, Standley Lake, 79
Dustin Baker, Dakota Ridge, 80
Alternates for state
Miles Jones, BC
R.C. Coons, AW