AURORA — A day after he shot 66, which included a remarkable 29 on the back nine, Spencer Painton settled for par. There was no need to be “Tin Cup.”
The Regis Jesuit senior capped his prep career as Class 5A medalist Tuesday, shooting 72 at a windy Murphy Creek Golf Course in underlining one of the best senior seasons on record.
The Kansas-bound Raider, who tied for runner-up a year ago, said: “I’ve got the best of both worlds. I’ve got the team championship, which is most important to me, and the individual. It was a very nice way to go out.”
Painton led Regis Jesuit to its fourth consecutive team title in a dominant showing by the Aurorans. He finished at 6-under-par 138, two shots better than teammate Jake Kelley, who fired a 69 — one of only three rounds in the 60s on Tuesday — and Legacy’s Li Chin, who tied Painton in 2012. They ended at 140.
Painton proved long off the tee, carried a hot putter and forged his irons as if in a steel mill. No doubt, he said, his biggest shot came on 18, when he ripped a drive into a right-side bunker, then pitched it above the hole to save par.
“A simple little shot,” he said. “I guess I had the golf gods on my side. … This means so much to me”
Said Raiders coach Craig Rogers: “He was like a professional out there. … He’s so smart.”
Earlier in the season, Painton posted a 64, nearly won an out-of-state tournament and had a 68 at testing Murphy Creek in regionals. As Rogers noted, “if you take his front nine in regionals (30) and back nine on Monday, that’s 59.”
Boulder’s Grant Rogers, with a second-round 67, and Grandview’s Devyn Solano tied for fourth (145).
Teamwise, the Raiders rolled — they were 212-213—425, 23 strokes better than Ralston Valley.
Neil H. Devlin: ndevlin@denverpost.com or
RESULTS
CLASS 5A
At Murphy Creek G.C., Aurora, par 72
Team scores — Regis Jesuit 212-213— 245, Ralston Valley 221-227— 448, Cherry Creek 222-228—450, Legacy 225-230—255, Heritage 230-226—456, Fairview 225-231—456, Boulder 232-227—459, Grand Junction 230-229—459, Arapahoe 238-223—461, Columbine 229-242—471, Fort Collins 236-237—473, Douglas County 228-250—478, Fossil Ridge 247-232—479, Monarch 243-248—491, Loveland 251-251—502.
Top Individuals
Spencer Painton, Regis Jesuit 66-72—138
Li Chen, Legacy 67-73—140
Jake Kelley, Regis Jesuit 71-69—140
Grant Rogers, Boulder 78-67—145
Devyn Solano, Grandview 75-70—145
A.J. Ott, Fort Collins 73-73—146
Troy Dangler, Fruita 73-69—147
Chris Korte, Regis Jesuit 75-72—147
Donny Kinnaman, G. Junction 72-75—147
Hunter Lee, Heritage 75-73—148
Neil Tillman, Ralston Valley 74-74—148
Sam Marley, Arapahoe 74-74—148
Kobe Padilla, Cherry Creek 73-75—148
Kyler Dunkle, Douglas County 73-76—149
Grant Olinger, Pomona 73-76—149
Keegan Sheard, Ral. Valley 73-76—149
Erik Young, George Wash. 79-71—150
Kevin Wohlfarth, Fairview 74-76—150
Michael Tait, Columbine 74-76—150
Bradley Scarra, Cherokee Trail 72-78—150
Cole Edwards, Cherry Creek 76-75—151
Will Matthews, Cherry Creek 73-78—151
CLASS 4A
At Hiwan G.C., Evergreen, par 70
Top team scores — Valor Christian 228-225—453, Siver Creek 223-233—456, Cheyenne Mountain 230-233—463, Coronado 234-239—473, Durango 239-235—474, Pueblo South 241-236—477, D’Evelyn 243-235—477, Evergreen 249-242—491, Steamboat Springs 251-247—498, Thompson Valley 260-261—521.
Top Individuals
Isaac Petersilie, Coronado 70-74—144
Wilson Belk, Chey. Mountain 71-74—145
Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 70-77—147
Jake Staiano, Valor Christian 77-71—148
Jakob Rudosky, Mont.-Cortez 75-74—149
A. Rademacher-Howe, S. Crk. 69-80—149
Ross Macdonald, Valor Chr. 75-77—152
Trevor Bogus, Durango 76-77—153
Jackson Solem, Silver Creek 76-78—154
Josh Sepile, V. Christian 76-78—154
Taylor Rodriguez, Pueb. South 81-74—155
Todd Millard, Silver Creek 80-75—155
CLASS 3A
At Pueblo C.C., par 71
Top team scores — Alexander Dawson 213-232— 445, Peak to Peak 243-228—471, Lutheran 241-230—471, Aspen 238-236—474, Kent Denver 235-249—484, Holy Family 244-244-488.
Top Individuals
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Basalt 71-70—141
Behrod Keshtavar, Peak to Peak 72-73—145
Cole Folwell, Alex. Dawson 69-77—146
Cameron Connor, Alex. Dawson 69-78—147
Hayden Nicholaides, Lutheran 78-70—148
Payton DeVencenty, Lutheran 76-75—151
Clayton Crawford, Aspen 78-74—152
Matt Benevidas, Alamosa 77-75—152
Yale Kim, Alexander Dawson 75-77—152
Gary Schlatter, Kent Denver 73-79—152
Dylan Jirsa, Estes Park 75-79—154
Brian Coleman, Estes Park 78-77—155
Sam Taylor, Peak to Peak 79-77—156
