As all golfers know, tree luck can work both in your favor (a bounce back out to the fairway) or against you (a ball nestled right up against a tree trunk) when you’re out on the course.

Despite plenty of the latter tree luck for the STEM Boys’ Golf team in Tuesday’s (Sept. 16) dual meet against Denver Academy at Foothills Golf Course, the Spartans put together some encouraging rounds in their inaugural 18-hole tournament of the season.

Junior Aarav Singh tied for third place with a season-best round of 86, leading the Spartans against a much more seasoned Mustangs squad that was led by senior Matthew Welch (81) and junior Luc Stanley (82).

Also breaking 90 for STEM was sophomore Jaxson Martin (89), who rebounded from a rough start — that included the aforementioned trees — to finish just 7-over par over his final 14 holes. 

Spartans junior Joey Arnold made it to the clubhouse with a 115 for the day, with sophomore Emmett Cumbler rounding out the team’s scores with a 120 — while winning the Don Quixote-esque honor of having battled the most trees over the course of the round.

Rounding out the scores for Denver Academy were juniors Wes Peters (86) and Teddy Peterson (93).

The tournament was delayed briefly when a fast-moving lightning system passed over the course near the end of the players’ front nine — but after the storm cleared, the players resumed play in ideal (if a bit soggy) conditions.

Lightning unfortunately followed the Spartans in a dual meet against Highlands Ranch High School the next day at The Meadows Golf Course, with play suspended on the 15th hole due to a storm system that paused play until darkness ended all hope of completing the round. Plans to resume Wednesday’s dual meet are pending. SIngh, Martin, Cumbler and Jacoby Van Winkle were STEM’s representatives in the tournament. 

The Spartans will host the STEM Invitational at Lone Tree Golf Course on Tuesday, Sept. 23 before wrapping up the regular season at the Golden View Classical Invitational at Fox Hollow on Sept. 29.