Jack Adolfson (pictured) and Dylan Wonnacott form the Silver Creek 1-2 punch that is expecting to push for state team and individual titles.
Courtesy photo
and
Dylan Wonnacott are in the unique position of hoping the other excels mightily on the golf course this season — but not too mightily.
The
Silver Creek (Longmont) teammates, you see, finished Nos. 2 and 3 in the Class 4A state tournament last season and helped guide the Raptors to the team title. But each, of course, would like to win the individual state crown this season, which has led to some healthy competition amongst the longtime pals.
"Oh, absolutely," Wonnacott said. "Jack and I have been playing with each other and against each other since we were little. We grew up on the same golf course, Fox Hill Country Club, so we've been competing as long as I can remember."
Adolfson recorded the No. 2 finish, trailing only Valor Christian then-senior Wyndham Clark, who shot an astounding 16-under par at Pelican Lakes Golf Club. Adolfson, who shot 8 under, was named to the Denver Post's All-Colorado team. Wonnacott followed closely at third place, a stroke behind at 7 under.
Dylan Wonnacott
Courtesy photo
With Clark graduated, the Silver Creek tandem inherits the role of favorites. Neither has signed with a college.
"Personally, an individual title would be pretty huge in a tournament like that, especially with recruiting season going on," Adolfson said. "That being said, high school season is kind of refreshing because you have a team atmosphere. Golfing in the summer, it's all about the individual."
Raptors coach Mike Maydew naturally is all about the team. In addition to Adolfson and Wonnacott, Maydew returns another 2011 state qualifier in
Andrew Rademacher-Howe.
Todd Millard, who qualified in 2010, also returns. Rademacher-Howe and Millard finished Nos. 2 and 3 this week in the Longmont City Invite behind Boulder's Grant Rogers (Adolfson and Wonnacott weren't in the tourney).
A handful of additional Raptors have shot in the high 70s this summer, giving Silver Creek an early edge over other 4A stalwarts such as
Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch) and
Broomfield (Broomfield). Will an individual title-winner be part of that equation?
"I think each of them want to finish as high as they possibly can," Maydew said. "They both want to win, but one of the things we were noticing last year is that they're such a tight-knit group that during the season they're worried more about the team."
It won't be a cake walk for the Silver Creek tandem. Valor Christian's
Josh Seiple has had a strong summer.
Jimmy Makloski of
Pueblo South and
Glenn Workman of
Pueblo West also are among the field of contenders.
While Adolfson and Wonnacott battled the field — as well as each other — the determining factor likely won't be a playing style difference.
"We're pretty similar, actually," Wonnacott said. "We can go out any given day and it's going to be a toss-up of who's going to beat who. We've played countless rounds of golf together and it's off and on for both of us."
Adolfson, who finished second to Makloski this week in the CJGA Series Championship at the The Ranch Country Club in Westminster, said his short and long irons have been thriving recently while his putting has struggled a bit. But he's ready for the varsity season.
"Overall, our team has quite a bit of confidence," Adolfson said. "And Dylan and I are as ready as ever heading into our senior season."
Maydew believes the 4A circuit might be on par with 5A this season, if not a bit deeper. In 5A, returning champion Gus Lundquist has graduated, but his state-title team of
Regis Jesuit (Aurora) will be among the cast of favorites.
In 3A, state champ
Ethan Freeman of
Kent Denver (Englewood) returns to lead a Sun Devils squad that has captured six straight titles (four in 3A, two in 4A).
