Getting to the Class 5A boys golf state championship wasn’t going to be an easy task for Heritage.
Grouped in what was unquestionably the toughest region in 5A, the Eagles had to not only navigate the course at Common Ground Golf Course in Aurora, but the competition from perennial 5A powerhouses Regis Jesuit (defending champion), Cherry Creek and Arapahoe.
Despite the loaded field, the Eagles felt good about their chances.
“We knew we had a strong team this year,” Austin Rowe said. “This was going to be our best opportunity to make it to state.”
With Hunter Lee’s round of 71 (good for a third-place tie) setting the pace, teammates Rowe (72) and Peter Sullivan (75) also put together rounds that earned them an invitation to the state tournament, which gets underway Oct. 1 at Rolling Hills Country Club in Golden.
“I’m really proud of the guys,” Heritage coach Nicki Poulos said. “They were in the toughest region and they all played great golf.”
By qualifying three players, Heritage – which finished third at the South Metro regional behind Regis Jesuit and Cherry Creek – are eligible for the overall team title.
“It’s a big accomplishment and we’re very proud to be representing our school,” Rowe said.
The trio said that while that while the regional was pressure-packed, they did their best to block any outside noise out.
“It’s just another round of golf,” Rowe said.
“You just have to go out and play the course, treat it like a normal round and not worry about what the players on other teams are doing. I think we all did a good job of that.”
That laser-like focus was honed during the summer, as all three worked hard on their respective games and stayed in frequent communication.
“We’re always pushing each other,” Sullivan said. “We’re out there playing the course individually but we’re also trying to encourage our teammates because having a good team finish is important to us.”
Again, with such an individual-based sport like golf, it can be hard to identify the strengths a teammate possesses, but that strong bond the Heritage team has allows them to quickly and accurately assess what a teammate brings to the table.
“Hunter is clutch,” Sullivan said. “He is a good putter and driver and is the guy that when we’re in a slump, he’s there to bring us up.”
Lee: “Austin is always consistent and a great putter; he doesn’t miss anything under eight feet,” Lee said. “Peter is a guy that no matter if he’s having a good day or bad day finds a way to get it done.”
And finally, Rowe on his teammates: “Peter can hit some of the craziest shots, but he hits them well,” Rowe said. “I like that because it shows you there’s always a solution no matter where you are on the course. “Hunter is always consistent and when he has to make a shot, he comes through.”
With a week off between the regional tournament and state, all three golfers were planning on spending a lot of time getting to know the course where they will play their final 36 holes of the season.
The Par-71, 6,971-yard course at Rolling Hills Country Club will be unfamiliar territory for Sullivan and Lee, as well as their coach. Rowe has played the course before.
The team planned to watch video of a recent profile on the course, and also hoped to get in a couple of practice rounds before Oct. 1.
“I’ve never played it,” Poulos said. “I’ve heard the greens are really difficult. Hopefully we’ll have a better idea of what to expect at state after this week.”
Lee said that if he and his teammates can keep the same mental focus at state as they had at the regional tournament, anything is possible.
“Everyone starts off at even par,” Lee said. “From there, it’s really anybody’s tournament.”
Added Rowe: “There’s a lot of pressure at state and it affects people in different ways. Regis and Cherry Creek are probably the favorites but we’ll see what happens.”