Evergreen boys golf loaded with returning talent

ARVADA — Evergreen senior Tyler Long has a chance to make history this boys golf season.

The University of Colorado verbal commit can become the first boys golfer to win four straight Jeffco League individual medalist titles. 

“I’m thinking about it a little bit this year since I know it is a possibility,” Long said of having the chance to make history as Jeffco’s first 4-time league medalist champion before teeing off at the first Jeffco League tournament of the season Tuesday, Aug. 20, at Lake Arbor Golf Course. “I try not to focus on it too much. Just play one round at a time. Just one shot at a time.”

If the Long’s performance from holes 5 to 11 at Lake Arbor is any indication, it will be tough for anyone to dethrone Long from another league title. Long had a slow start sitting at 1-over-par through four holes, but the senior reeled off seven straight birdies on his way to a 4-under-par, 66.

“He (Long) is that good,” Evergreen coach Brad Garrett said on the driving range before Long’s incredible run of seven straight birdies to win his first 4A/3A Jeffco League individual title of the season. “Tyler, along with other guys on this team, has a high ceiling. For me I’m just excited to see (Long) hit the ball, along with the rest of these guys. It is quite a sight to see these guys hit the ball. I’m lucky to be apart of it.”

Evergreen can win its fifth straight 4A/3A Jeffco League title, along with attempting to win another state team title. The Cougars captured the school’s first boys golf team title last year winning the 4A state title.

The fact that Evergreen returns all five of its varsity players which are all seniors  — Long, Liam Houlihan, Lincoln Mackay, Luke Sabina and Jackson Garrett — the Cougars would likely be a heavy favorite to win another team title. 

“I feel like there is somewhat of an expectation of it, but it is still the same as last year,” said Houlihan, who tied for second with Long at state in the 4A individual standings a year ago. “You still have to go out there and play really good golf and compete at a pretty high level to win the state title.”

The addition of the 2A classification did move Evergreen down to 3A for the postseason this year. It was a bit surprising that Evergreen wasn’t in the top-10 in the CHSAANow.com 3A boys golf preseason coaches rankings released Aug. 12. 

It was more likely an oversight by at the 3A coaches who weren’t aware Evergreen will compete at 3A for regionals and state.

“We’ll see,” Houlihan said of Evergreen being left out of the 3A boys golf CHSAANow.com coaches preseason top-10 rankings. “They have their opinions. We’ll see what happens.”

Coach Garrett was quick to say that he doesn’t look or worry about any kind of rankings.

“All these guys are excited for the season,” Coach Garrett said of his talented group loaded with seniors. “We literally take just one shot at a time. We completely respect the teams in 3A.”

Long had a bit of a laugh when he was told Evergreen was left out of the preseason rankings.

“You just have to worry about yourself and control what you can control,” Long said of facing 3A competition in the postseason this year. 

Evergreen combined for a team score of 284 at Lake Arbor to take an early 25-stroke lead over rival Conifer in the race for the 4A/3A Jeffco League team title.

“These five guys have been together and are a really tight,” Garrett said. “There is some great chemistry there.”

The talented depth of the Cougars is clearly driving the squad to more success this season.

“You have to play really well all season,” Houlihan said of just competing to hold your spot on Evergreen deep squad. “We are a competitive team within each other. We compete all year-round to keep our spots. We help each other to get better.”

While there are plenty of individual and team goals for Evergreen, the Cougars aren’t getting ahead of themselves.

“I honestly don’t even what to hear back-to-back,” Garrett said of the Cougars with the chance to win another team state title. “We’ll think about that at the end of the season. If we are out there at state and it is possible we’ll think about it, but until then we are just focused on the next Jeffco event in front of us.”

The next Jeffco League tournament will be Thursday, Aug. 29, at Applewood Golf Course.