DENVER — There was some tense moments standing in the 18th fairway for Windsor senior Brentyn Paiz on Tuesday afternoon at City Park Golf Course.

Paiz was clinging to a one-stroke lead over Falcon junior Reese Knox at the Class 4A boys golf state tournament. While Knox was in the middle of the fairway on the par 4, Paiz had hit his tee shot a bit right.

“I ended up getting in that waste bunker on the right. There was a bunch of footprints and my ball was in the middle of one. It was sitting kind of down,” Paiz said. “Since it was a waste bunker I figured I couldn’t get relief.”

Paiz waited for a handful of minutes until a rule official came over to let him know he couldn’t get free relief. Eventually, the senior pulled out his 8-iron and hit probably the most clutch approach shot of his life with the ball ended up just on the back of the green.

“I was not expecting that outcome,” Paiz said of the approach shot. “I figured I would land it somewhere on the front of the green. I didn’t think it would get all the way back that.”

Paiz lagged his birdie putt to within tap-in range to finish his final round with a 3-under-par, 67. He won the tournament finishing 2-under-par and defeated Knox — who shot a 68 to finish the two-day tournament at even par — by two strokes.

“We were going back-and-forth almost every hole. We were feeding off each other,” Paiz said in almost the match-play feel with Knox. “It was a close match the whole day.”

A big turning point was when Paiz birdied the par 5 No. 16, while Knox had to settle for a par. Knox then just missed a birdie putt on No. 17 and then ended up with a bogey on No. 18 after his approach shot went in the back bunker behind the green.

“It definitely felt like match-play on the back-nine,” Knox said. “It was fun. Brentyn played good. He is a great putter.”

It was the first high school tournament victory of the season for Paiz.

“I didn’t have the best season, but my coach told me he didn’t want me to peak too early during the season. He wanted me to peak toward the end,” Paiz said. “I think I peaked today.”

Paiz was greeted by teammates and coaches as he walked off the 18th green with the 2-shot victory in what he called the greatest accomplishment he has had during his golfing career.

“I can’t even put into words how awesome it feels,” said Paiz, who finished tied for 11th last year at the state tournament. 

Knox also placed tied for 11th as a sophomore last season. The junior is definitely motivated to better his runner-up finish next year.

“I’m going to come back next year and win it,” Knox said.