Boys golf regionals: Arapahoe’s Wilkinson among Monday’s medalists
COLORADO SPRINGS — Arapahoe’s Matthew Wilkinson likes golfing in Colorado Springs. The sophomore had himself a day on Monday at the Colorado Springs Country Club where he shot a 4-under-par 67 to win the Class 5A Southern Regional golf tournament.
He didn’t get a fast start as he bogeyed the third hole of the day, but got on track with a birdie on No. 4, a 199-yard par 3.
He went out in 34 and turned it on once he got on the back nine. He made birdies on 11, 15 and 16 to claim the win over Regis Jesuit’s Bo Wardynski by three strokes at a course that Wilkinson saw as good prep for the 5A tournament which will be at Pinehurst.
“It’s a similar to the state course,” he said. “It’s tree-lined, tough greens, fast greens and firm fairways.”
The Warriors also got top-five finishes from Will Kates and Max Zadvorny to take home the team title. Arapahoe and Regis Jesuit were the top two teams in the tournament, earning automatic bids to state.
As for Wilkinson, he’s hoping that he he can take what he did at regionals to state in two weeks.
“I was in a groove,” he said.
Class 5A, Northern Region
Fossil Ridge’s Gavin Hagstrom got the win shooting a 5-under-par 67 at Broadlands. Three players finished the day in red numbers, the most of any 5A regional on the day.
The Sabercats also won the team championship. Broomfield claimed the other team qualifying bid, eding Castle View by just a single stroke.
Class 5A, Central Region
Lakewood’s Ryan Liao led the field with a 2-under-par 70 at South Suburban. Cherry Creek’s Charlie Flaxbeard was the only other kid to shoot under par and it was the Bruins who came away with the team win by placing three kids in the top 16 spots.
Highlands Ranch finished second to secure a trip to Pinehurst in two weeks.
Class 4A, Region 2
Golden’s Chankrit Sundurapura kept himself under par for most of the day but struggled on the par 4 16th hole at the Country Club of Colorado. The 16th was his final hole of the day and the tricky pin placement led to a three-putt, ending his day with a 1-over-par 72 to take medalist honors.
Site host Cheyenne Mountain had three players in the top-seven to take the team title. Ponderosa shot 28-over as a team to also qualify for the 4A tournament at The Bridges Country Club in Montrose.
Class 4A, Region 1
Discovery Canyon’s Kaden Ford shot a 1-over-par 73 to get the win at Desert Hawk. He doubled up with wins as the Thunder shot 21-over to edge Pueblo West by three strokes.
Individual qualifiers from Coronado, Canon City and Durango also came out of Region 2.
Class 3A, Region 2
Prospect Ridge Academy’s Walker Franklin made par on the first playoff hole to secure medalist honors at 3A’s Region 2 tournament. Holy Family claimed the team title with Colorado Academy securing the other team berth at the 3A state tournament.
The qualifiers will be back on the course in two weeks at the Eisenhower Blue Course at the United States Air Force Academy.
