The class 5A and 4A boys golf state tournaments each battled two weather delays on Monday, slowing the first day of the championships.
Lightning and rain halted the 4A tournament in Pueblo for nearly an hour at 1:48 p.m., and again a 4:03 p.m. The second delay lasted 45 minutes.
Meanwhile, rain and hail struck the Colorado Springs area and delayed the 5A event for an hour and 15 minutes at 2:17 p.m. Lightning caused another delay at 4:14 p.m., this one spanning 35 minutes.
Eventually, both tournaments were able to complete the first day of play.
Fort Collins’ Hunter Paugh led all 5A golfers with a 2-under 69 on the first day in Colorado Springs. Arapahoe’s David Packer is just one stroke back with a 1-under 70, while Grand Junction’s Trevor Olkowski is third at 2-over.
Isaac Petersilie of Coronado, the defending 4A champion who is now in the 5A tournament after his team moved up a class, is among of group of seven golfers who are tied for fourth at 3-over.
Coronado leads the team race at 13-over. Highlands Ranch (17-over) is second, and Boulder (23-over) is third.
Find complete 5A results here.
The first day of the 4A tournament belonged to Valor Christian, the defending champion. As a team, the Eagles, who finished at 10-under, hold a 14-stroke lead on second-place Pueblo South (4-over). Cheyenne Mountain (13-over) is third.
Individually, Valor Christian teammates Jake Staiano and Coby Welch are tied for the lead at 5-under. Pueblo South’s Taylor Rodriguez is third at 3-under, while Mesa Ridge Braden Bently and Steamboat Springs’ Britt Walton are tied for fourth at 1-under.
The 3A tournament did not have trouble with weather, and completed its round around 3:15 p.m.
Sterling’s Trey Lambrecht led the field after shooting a 4-under 68, while Peak to Peak’s Sam Taylor and Colorado Academy’s Max Messner are tied for second with a 1-under 71.
Sterling led the 3A team race at 6-over, ahead of defending champion Dawson School (12-over) and Kent Denver (16-over).
