LOVELAND — Niko Mircos is beginning to become an old hand at this playoff thing.
Two years ago, the Longmont senior went to a playoff at regionals with his Trojans teammates with a state berth on the line. Last year, he was in a playoff with an individual spot up for grabs. So it should come as no surprise that Tuesday at Mariana Butte Golf Course in the 4A Northern Regional, Mircos found himself in another playoff, this time as part of a six-person cluster for the last two spots at next month’s state championship.
And just like the last two years, when the dust settled, Mircos was back at state.
On the third playoff hole, with Mircos and Windsor’s Austin Geuke remaining to decide the final spot, Mircos bogeyed the par-4 No. 3. It was enough to qualify him for state because Geuke’s second shot found a sand trap and his ensuing shot barely made it out. He got on the green and two-putted for double bogey.
Mircos wouldn’t have gotten the opportunity, but three golfers, including Trojans teammate Jared Mannett (74) and Niwot’s Tyler Winslow (75), were disqualified for signing an incorrect scorecard. Their miscues opened the door for Mircos, and he knows it.
“I do. I do,” he said about feeling fortunate to have a second chance. “Unfortunately, some people got DQ’d for me to get into this spot. But I’m thankful that I did get the chance.”
The first playoff hole eliminated Berthoud’s Nils Hansen and Windsor’s Jake Fitzgerald. At the second playoff hole, Broomfield’s Zach Thoutt secured one of two spots with his second consecutive par, giving the Eagles three golfers in next month’s state meet. Meanwhile, Greeley Central’s Jacob Erlich double bogeyed No. 2, leaving Mircos and Geuke to battle for the final spot.
Mircos barely made it past the second playoff hole after his second shot found a sand trap. But he chipped out of the bunker and managed to save a bogey to force a third playoff hole. He wasn’t sure he would survive with a bogey.
“I had my doubts,” Mircos said. “It’s part of the game. I just had to finish the hole. Luckily, it was a bogey and we got into the next one.”
One person who didn’t have to worry about such pressure was Silver Creek’s Jack Adolfson. The freshman shot a 2-under-par 70 in blustery conditions to earn medalist honors.
“I adjusted my swing to meet the conditions. I was just striking the ball well and made some putts, key putts,” Adolfson said.
His efforts carried Silver Creek to the team championship with a score of 230. Fort Morgan, at 237, came in second, and Fossil Ridge and Greeley Central tied for third with 238 totals.
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to a reporting error, it had an incorrect spelling of Niko Mircos’ last name.
