Golf: Basalt’s Didier finishes as state runner-up in Pueblo, Longhorns third
Aspen comes in sixth as a team at Walking Stick
Austin Colbert/The Aspen Times
Basalt High School sophomore golfer Griffin Didier had a stellar showing at the Class 3A tournament on Monday and Tuesday, finishing as state runner-up at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo.
With the help of a 10th-place finish from senior Jackson Stewart, the Longhorns finished third as a team in one of the best showings in program history. Aspen finished sixth.
Evergreen won the 3A championship, shooting 12-under-par 420 (207-213) over the two days. The Cougars bested runner-up Resurrection Christian by 17 strokes (5-over 437), while Basalt shot 14-over 446 (224-222) for solo third. Lutheran was fourth (449) and Peak to Peak was fifth (451), with Aspen shooting 456 (229-227) to just miss the top five.
The Skiers had won state championships in both 2018 and 2021, and had won their regional championship last week at Snowmass Club.
Individually, Evergreen senior Tyler Long won the 3A title by shooting 9-under 135 for the two days. He had rounds of 67 and 68 on the par 72 course. Didier shot 69 on Monday and 70 on Tuesday to finish a mere four strokes back of Long.
Peak to Peak’s Jack Brayman was third with 140 (71-69), Evergreen’s Liam Houlihan was fourth with 142 (70-72), while Resurrection Christian’s Micah Livingstone (73-71) and Evergreen’s Luke Sabina (71-73) tied for fifth with 144.
Stewart shot 147, with rounds of 74 and 73. Basalt’s third scoring player was sophomore Hudson Arnold, who finished tied for 38th with 160 (81-79). Freshman Parker Strelecki also competed, tying for 59th with 168 (85-83).
Aspen’s top individual was senior Ryan Rigney, who shot 149 (77-72) to finish 15th overall. AHS junior Houston Benvenuto, who won the regional title at Snowmass, tied for 16th after shooting 151 (74-77). Aspen’s third scorer was junior Leo Roennau, who tied for 29th place with 156 (78-78). AHS sophomore Oliver Pullis also competed, tying for 69th with 175 (91-84).
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