When Strasburg golf coach Eric Gilbert and former standout Indians golfer Jake Gilbert strolled to the backside of the 18th green at Rolling Hills on Tuesday afternoon, they were headed to greet Class 2A’s newest – and first – boys golf state champion.
Their son and brother, Kameron Gilbert.
Kameron, a senior, three-putted the last green to make bogey – because there was no real need to make par. He’d had the victory in hand for most of the back-9, carrying a 4-stroke lead for the final seven holes.
His 127-yard approach shot in 18 dropped softly below the hole – a strategic location he seemingly enjoyed on most greens during his final round – after clubbing down to avoid trouble. Once the ball landed on the dance floor, he turned and told his dad, “That’s all I needed.” His 1-under-par 70 on Tuesday put him at 7-over for the tournament with no one standing above him.
Although he entered the day three strokes back, he quickly ascended to the top of the leaderboard. The big lead clearly allowed the senior to play a smart round, managing the course all the way to the title.
“I think it was a good thing (having that kind of lead),” he said, dismissing the notion that more pressure comes along with being ahead of the chase. “I just tried my best on every single shot.”
If there were any nerves on the final hole, dad and brother might have felt them the most. Their presence, however, gave Kameron an extra push.
“It was great having them there,” said the champ. “My brother can only get to a couple rounds each year. It was awesome having him at state.”
Jake qualified for state four years in a row at Strasburg, capping a stellar prep golf career with a 3A fourth place finish in 2021.
“I don’t have anything left to hold over his head,” laughed Jake, who went on to play college golf.
Little brother. Big, big win.
“He did this on his own. He’d only won one tournament, the Brush Invitational back in September. This was a personal journey,” dad and coach Eric said. “His brother made state four years in a row, and Kameron never had. He made this a mission. He truly believed he could do it.”
Dad credits Dustin Miller of Swing Bays in Parker for helping to hone in the sweet swing that turned out to be the sweetest in 2A golf this fall.
“Up until I had the lead, I was just firing at pins,” Kameron said. “I was just trying to get it as close as possible… and give myself a chance to win.”
With his entire family watching, win he did.
David Thomsen, who finished as the 2A state runner up at Rolling Hills on Tuesday, might have posted the best score for his Golden View Classical Academy golf team.
But it’s up for debate as to which Sentinels golfer was the most valuable.
Luke Chronowski, for example, broke 90 for just the second time ever – and he did so on the first day of state with everything on the line.
“If I had to pick an MVP, it might be Luke. He beat his scoring average both days at state, under pressure on a really tough golf course” said GVCA golf coach Timm Petersen.
Ironically, Chronowski had played most of the season with “40-year-old golf clubs.” His coach brought back a used but newer set from a golf trip in Arizona; they quickly paid dividends.
Sophomore Colleen Todd kept the heat on his teammate Thomsen, along with every golfer in the top 10; Todd finished the state tournament in seventh.
Matthew Traudt also played above expectations, rounding out the foursome that topped 2A.
The Sentinels narrowly edged Monte Vista by just two strokes, and Sterling by three.
“I couldn’t sleep last night,” said Petersen, whose team was the “sixth or seventh best team on paper” despite holding a five-stroke lead heading into the final round. ,“I didn’t expect to be in this position.”
