GJHS Golf Secures Consecutive 2nd Place at State Championships
The Grand Junction Tigers Boys Golf Team has once again showcased their talent by securing a second-place finish at the Class 4A State Championship, held at Tiara Rado Golf Course. This marks the second consecutive year the Tigers have earned this impressive runner-up spot.
Several players from the team finished in the top ten, with Ky Korte leading the Tigers by placing third overall at three-over-par. Jack Kaul secured sixth place, finishing seven-over, while Hunter Simmons rounded out the top ten at eleven-over. Despite these strong individual performances, the Tigers were unable to claim the top spot, as Cheyenne Mountain’s Brayden Destefano and Charlie Doyle finished first and second overall, respectively. Korte kept the pressure on Destefano, staying within three strokes at one point during the second round, but an up-and-down back nine allowed Cheyenne Mountain to pull ahead and clinch the title.
Reflecting on the course, Korte commented, “Tiara Rado is one of the best state tracks on the Western Slope. It’s a course where you can make a lot of birdies, but it can bite you if you’re not careful.”
For seniors like Korte and Simmons, the state championship marked their final round as Tigers, bringing a bittersweet close to their high school golfing careers.
“Ky and Jack have been the anchors of our team for the last three years,” said Grand Junction Head Coach Tom LeFebre. “I could go on about what great young men they are. They’ve put in so much time during the spring, summer, and fall. I really wanted them to win a state title because of the effort they’ve put in. But it’s okay—they’re fantastic young men, and they’ve had an incredible run.”
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Central High School also made their mark on the leaderboard, finishing 13th overall in the Class 4A standings.
