Evergreen golfer Tyler Long continues historic run

LAKEWOOD — How low can Evergreen senior golfer Tyler Long go?

Long is on pace to easily make history clinching his fourth straight Jeffco League individual medalist title. The senior won his fifth straight Class 3A Jeffco League tournament firing a 8-under-par, 63 Monday on the Links and Canyon courses at Fox Hollow Golf Course.

What is even more remarkable, Long had round of 66, 66, 65 and 64 at the first four Jeffco League tournaments. His stroke average is currently 64.80, nearly six stokes over second place — Evergreen senior teammate Liam Houlihan (70.60).

Long has a chance to finish out the 6-tournament Jeffco League schedule with rounds all in the 60s. 

The individual medalist champions for 5A, 4A and 3A Jeffco will be officially crowned next Tuesday, Sept. 17, at the final Jeffco League tournament at West Woods Golf Club in Arvada. However, the highest 18-hole round is dropped for every golfer after the competition of the sixth league tournament, so Long essentially can’t be caught in his run to becoming the first ever Jeffco League golfer to grab four individual medalist titles.

As a team, Evergreen has five of the top-6 golfers in the 3A Jeffco League standings. Long, Houlihan, Lincoln MacKay, Jackson Garrett and Luke Sabina — all seniors — have the Cougars with a comfortable 168-stroke lead over second-place Conifer in the 3A team standings. 

In fact, Evergreen’ team total of 1,417 heading into the final league tournament is the best in all three of Jeffco’s classifications.

Chatfield (1,468) has a 1-stroke lead over rival Columbine (1,469) in the 5A team standings. Valor Christian junior Campbell McFadden (69.20 stroke average) is leading the individual medalist race over Columbine senior Alex Lest (70.40) and Chatfield senior Jesse Hand (71.00).

In the 4A team race, Dakota Ridge (1,568) holds a pretty wide lead over Golden (1,630). Dakota Ridge senior Nick Sullivan (76.20) leads senior teammate Cohan Goudge (76.60) heading into the final league tournament next week.