Brenden Beeg has been here before. He knows what to expect. But he has never been able to share the experience of playing at the 4A state golf tournament with his teammates.
That’s about to change.
Led by sophomore John Ahern, not only did the Jaguars win the 4A Metro Regional golf tournament last week by 12 strokes over Rock Canyon, they established themselves as more than a one-man show.
“We knew coming into league play we were the team to beat in this area,” D’Evelyn head coach Troy Pachner said. “What we love about these kids is that they made a nice transition. For us, it’s not just about individual competition, it really is a team sport.”
But it hasn’t always been that way. The past two seasons, only Beeg, now a senior, had the game to make it past regionals. He tied for 17th at state in 2006 and 12th last year. Now, he has company coming along for the ride.
“Before, it wasn’t much of a team atmosphere. But now we have some really good talent,” Beeg said. “It’s been a lot of fun going to tournaments and being able to share the wins with the other guys on the team. We get everybody involved.”
And considering his history, everybody will be looking to Beeg for pointers on how to handle the circus the state tournament will be.
“I think it will definitely help out just having the previous experience, knowing what it will be like up there,” Beeg said.
Things are sure to be hectic Monday and Tuesday at Yampa Valley Golf Course in Craig. With the likes of Greeley Central and Lewis-Palmer to face, the challenge will be a stern one. But Pachner hopes his team will take things in stride.
“We’re going to talk to the team about the last two years of experience with Brenden,” Pachner said. “We need to focus yet stay loose at the same time.”
That all starts with Ahern. The cool, collected sophomore is, as Pachner describes him, “calm, humble and stays in the moment.”
While lacking the varsity experience of his counterpart, Ahern isn’t lacking when it comes to improving his game. He says he’s always learning how to score, working on his putts and finding ways to get up and down the course.
Ahern took medalist honors at the 4A Metro Regional with a 3-under-par 69 at Foothills Golf Course.
“John is just about as consistent as you’ll find hitting fairways, greens. He doesn’t miss,” Pachner said. “He has the potential over the life of his career to shoot some amazing numbers. He works so hard at it.”
Ahern will be the first to say that while he and his teammates have put in the extra time on the golf course, it’s been just as much fun off it, too.
The players have been hanging out together, getting to know each other better. And when one is having an off day on the course, the rest of the team is there to pick up the slack.
“It’s been a lot of fun. The best thing we could wish for,” Ahern said. “I don’t think it’s been overwhelming. With Brenden’s experience and the whole team here, it’s been fun.”
Along with Beeg and Ahern, the Jaguars will take senior Chris Tschudy and sophomore Sam Phillips to state. Tschudy shot a 3-over 75 at regionals, while Phillips took third.
“Chris has been real solid for us,” Pachner said. “Sam is the character of the team. He’s got a great personality. He’s as good a find as there is in high school from 100 yards out.”
Phillips might be, but next week, D’Evelyn will see the best — including Greeley Central’s Nick Umholtz, the 2005 state champion as a freshman — up close and personal. In Monday’s opening round, the Jaguars will be paired with D’Evelyn and Lewis-Palmer.
“It’s great. Going head-to-head with Greeley Central and Lewis-Palmer will tell us right away where we stand,” Pachner said.
If this year and the way D’Evelyn played at regionals are any indication, the Jaguars should match up just fine.
