Each step Hayden Dorsey takes on the links is accompanied by a smile of gratitude thanks to an already stellar season.

Dorsey recalls his finish at the state boys golf tournament as a freshman when he placed 43rd in a field of 84 with a two-day total of 32-over-par 176. The Manitou Springs junior also remembers last year’s tied-for-10th finish at state with a 2-over 147.

In 2025, in three of the Mustangs’ first four tournaments, Dorsey secured the top spot including at Cheyenne Shadows on Aug. 14 where the junior shot a 5-under 67 to scorch the field of 67 competitors.

“It felt good to get a top-10 finish at state and to continue to see that progression,” said Dorsey, this week’s Gazette Preps Peak Performer. “I’ve been working with a golf psychologist for the past couple of years and that’s helped a lot. Learning to bounce back when you have a bad hole or bad stretch has given me the ability to not give up on a round and to keep fighting.”

During Monday’s Cherokee Ridge Invitational, Dorsey’s fortitude was tested when he required a clutch performance on the final hole. Falcon freshman Cayden Besler held a one-stroke lead heading to the 18th hole after a birdie on 17, but the Mustangs junior remained poised.

“My past self would have put a ton of pressure on myself to get it done,” Dorsey said. “I went into the 18th saying, ‘You’ve got a shot at this. Just play how you normally would.’ I wasn’t thinking about the aftermath, I was thinking about what I’m going to do on the shot to get into the best position to win it.”

On the par-5, 485-yard hole, Dorsey needed just two shots to reach the green with a pitching wedge to within 25 feet of the pin.

“On the putt, I went through my routine: read the putt, did my end point and took a final look at the hole before I went for it,” Dorsey said. “I felt good over the putt and it went in. It felt good to show that I can make those kinds of putts in bigger situations.”

Mustangs coach Ken Vecchio said Dorsey continues to display confidence in his game and he’s learned “to expect the unexpected.”

“(Hayden’s) physical skills are solid and he has developed a great overall approach to the mental aspect as well,” Vecchio said. “I think he is doing a great job of playing one shot at a time. There are a lot of great high school golfers playing right now and I’m sure the state tournaments will be exciting. I think he has the ability to compete with the best players out there.”

As does Dorsey, who said he’s taking the “one tournament at a time” approach and focuses on each of the Mustangs’ upcoming events. However, Dorsey does expect to return to the state tournament Oct. 6-7 at Eagle Ranch Golf Course in Eagle.

“I definitely want to leave my mark,” Dorsey said. “Sophomore year was a great starting point and I realize now that I’m ready to get after it. … I want to get a good grasp of my game and once that day comes for state, I think I’ll be ready. There are a lot of good players in 3A but I think I can hang pretty well this year.”