GOLDEN - Kameron Gilbert got his first-ever chance at a state title this week, and he took advantage of it.

A senior at Strasburg, Gilbert shot a 7-over 150 over the two days of the 2A State Boys Golf Tournament to win the event — held at The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden — on Monday and Tuesday.

Gilbert beat second-place David Thomson of Golden View Classical Academy by three strokes, as Thomson helped the Sentinels win the team title with a team score of 489 (63-over).

Gilbert, a senior, failed to qualify for state in his first three seasons of high school golf. That fueled him en route to winning the 2024 championship.

“I’ve been out on state by a couple of shots the last three years,” Gilbert said. “To come out with a W is pretty cool.”

Gilbert entered the day tied for fifth after shooting an 8-over 79 on Monday. In Round 1, Gilbert missed 11 putts within 10 feet.

Better putting was the difference for him on Tuesday. Gilbert finished the second round 1-under (70), logging three birdies and two bogeys.

“They were just falling today — that was the difference,” Gilbert said. “I played the same golf that I played yesterday; they were just going in.”

Gilbert won a tournament during the regular season and also finished in the top five at a handful of other ones. He also hit the first albatross in program history in September.

But Tuesday’s win topped all the other memorable moments.

“It really just came down to my mental game,” Gilbert said. “It’s the best way that I could’ve finished.”

Corbin Sprague of Wray, Damien Baca of Las Animas and Carson Zummach of Gunnison finished third through fifth, shooting 156, 157 and 159, respectively.

The team race was tight.

GVCA entered Tuesday in first place with a five-stroke lead over Monte Vista. The Pirates crept closer and closer early in the day before eventually taking the lead.

But the Sentinels caught fire later in the day, beating the Pirates by two strokes.

“It was definitely a team effort,” GVCA coach Timm Petersen said. “We have a wide range of players on our team, and they stepped up.”

Thomson, the state runner up, gave the Sentinels their best individual score (153), while sophomore Collen Todd finished seventh individually with a 19-over 161. Juniors Luke Chronowski and Matthew Traudt shot 176 and 195, respectively.

For Monte Vista — with a 65-over 491 team score — brothers Kaden and Connor Mellott both shot 163 (21-over) to finish tied for ninth. Senior Liam Ellithorpe placed 13th individually with a 23-over 165, while sophomore Jakoby Ross shot a 47-over 189.

Sterling had the best Round 2 as a team, shooting 242 (29-over). The Tigers finished third place with a score of 492 (66-over).

Wray and Gunnison rounded out the top five in the team standings with scores of 502 and 505, respectively.