THORNTON — As the temperatures soared well into the 90s at Thorncreek Golf Course on Thursday afternoon, it was the boys from Boulder County that were bringing the heat.
Monarch, more than anybody, was on an absolute tear on the slightly dehydrated links. The Coyotes tallied not one, not two but three golfers in the top four performers, with senior Jake Bradley winning the tournament at even-par 72 and junior Grady DeCola lagging just a stroke behind for stand-alone second.
Junior Solomon Jones, not to be outdone, carded a 74 to tie Niwot’s Henry Peterson for third. The Coyotes, in full, won the Granite Peaks League tournament hosted by Holy Family by a smooth 18 strokes (298) as Longmont claimed second (316).
“I’ve always really liked this course,” Bradley said. “I’ve always played well here. It definitely helps hitting the ball a lot farther. There aren’t as many drivers. There are a lot more irons off tees, which makes it a lot easier. Dispersion gets a little smaller.”
Over the past year, Bradley said that he’s seen consistent improvement with his long game and short game, gaining “a lot of distance off the tee.” His betterment, of course, is just a drop in the bucket compared to the whole picture of Monarch boys golf.
Last year’s state-qualifying team finished fourth at the Class 4A state tournament, and every single one of those players came back this year.
“We’ve all gotten drastically better,” Bradley said. “All of our days that were good last year are just like OK days now. We got fourth last year, and none of us really played great — and that was last year. Obviously, our competition’s gotten a little better. I believe if we just play to our ability and trust the process, we’ll make a good run (at winning state).”
What a difference a year makes
Niwot’s Henry Peterson tees off on hole 18 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
The last time that Niwot’s Henry Peterson graced Thorncreek for an early-season GPL tournament, his mental game and skill on the links left a bit to be desired. He’ll be the first to admit that.
That competition, in his freshman season, rendered a score in the low 80s. He improved a by a full nine strokes in Thursday’s tournament, and said an adjustment in his mental game has made all the difference.
“Last year I was like a 12 handicap, not hitting my best, but I got around this summer and I feel good now,” Peterson said. “I’m a plus one handicap now. I shot an 83 last year at this tournament.”
Not only that, but a ton of practice in the offseason has seen him increase his distance. He missed out on making the state tournament cut in 2025, and he’s bound and determined to make the postseason a reality this fall.
Until then, he just wants to have fun and stay healthy.
“Coach Ed (Weaver) will tell you I was pretty bad at my attitude last year but I’ve turned it around and feel really good,” Peterson said. “I kind of just started getting better at golf. I got in my head on the front nine today, got it back at the end, and then shot 1-under on the back. It was pretty good.”
Longmont’s Jayson Mitts hits the ball down the fairway on hole 3 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Silver Creek’s Sam Pendergrass tees off on hole 18 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Holy Family’s Alex Kilpatrick tees off on hole 18 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Centaurus’ Matthew Bezuidenhout putts on hole 3 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Monarch’s Grady DeCola tees off on hole 1 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Longmont’s Ethan Shipp tees off on hole 1 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Monarch’s Jake Bradley putts on hole 3 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Holy Family’s Andrew DeGrassi putts on hole 17 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Mead’s Jack Eddy tees off on hole 18 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Centaurus’ Shady Wentworth tees off on hole 1 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Niwot’s Henry Peterson tees off on hole 18 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Mead’s Dillon Ingram tees off on hole 18 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Frederick’s Noah Silva tees off on hole 1 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Frederick’s Sam Mazzotta hits the ball down the fairway on hole 3 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Niwot’s James Larkin tees off on hole 18 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Silver Creek’s Baxter Koch tees off on hole 18 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
Holy Family’s Beckham Ward tees off on hole 18 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
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Longmont’s Jayson Mitts hits the ball down the fairway on hole 3 at Thorncreek Golf Course on Sept. 3, 2026, during a Granite Peaks League tournament. (Alissa Noe/BoCoPreps.com)
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Shoring up his Mitts-stakes
Since he first stepped onto a golf course for high school competition as a freshman, Longmont senior Jayson Mitts has been a perennial state qualifier for the Trojans.
But this season, as his focus has shifted more toward college and academics, he admits he hasn’t spent as much time honing his golf game. No common bystander would have guessed that on Thursday afternoon, as he shored up his day with a 3-over par 75 and fifth place.
Longmont’s Wyatt Bogue and David Valles lagged just behind at seventh and eighth, carding a 77 and 78, respectively.
“Knowing that, I think I just need to lock in a couple of things that I’ve been doing wrong, like my putting, and I think I’ll be close to first place or top five,” Mitts said. “Right here on No. 9, I three-putted. I think the only bad holes I had were three putts.”
Mitts has plenty of time, of course, to hit the putting green and practice his short game before the state tournament rolls around. He’s almost certainly a lock to make the postseason again, especially with the dissolution of regional tournaments over the past few seasons.
There, he hopes to shoot a few strokes under par.
“Knowing that there’s no regionals, I believe that it’s going to be pretty easy to qualify for state because I just got to play my game,” Mitts said. “I just got to stay focused and try to play better.”