GRAND JUNCTION – Redemption was the theme of this season’s Class 5A boys golf state tournament, as an individual and team that had been oh-so-close in years past finally got what they wanted.
Fairview senior Miles Kuhl — who had finished second and third in the previous two seasons — won medalist honors and Cherokee Trail, the runner-up in 2023 and 2024, both were victorious at the close of play Tuesday at Bookcliff County Club.
Kuhl led a cavalcade of players under par over two days — including a blistering final day 4-under-par 67 — to win by a stroke, while the Cougars edged Denver East in a playoffs
“I’ve been in every podium position now, 1, 2 and 3,” Kuhl said. “I was going to do anything I could to win and I did.”
Kuhl very nearly faced an individual playoff with sophomore teammate Ash Edwards, but Edwards — the first day leader by a stroke — fell a stroke shy and settled for the second spot.
The team race was incredibly close after one day, but Cherokee Trail and Denver East pulled away from the rest of the field over the course of the first half of other second round.
The Cougars and Angels slugged it out down to the final hole, as Cherokee Trail’s Brayden Forte made an eagle on No. 18 to give his team the lead and then Denver East’s Elijah Johnson tied it up with a birdie to force a playoff.
Putts by Forte, freshman Jeffrey Chen and senior Dalton Sisneros sealed it for Cherokee Trail.
“This feels amazing, it’s what we wanted for sure,” said Forte, who shot 64 in the final round to place third.
Last season’s state champion, Castle View’s Gavin Amella, finished in a tie for fourth place with Valor Christian’s Campbell McFadden and Arapahoe’s Nick Clinton, while Johnson took fifth and Sisneros sixth ahead of a five-way tie for seventh place.
