Jack Moats entered the 4A boys state golf tournament as Air Academy’s third qualifier and the 61^st ranked golfer out of 84.

After Monday’s round at Fox Hill Club in Longmont, Moatsshot an even-par 70, is in a three-way tie for first place and helped lead Air Academy’s trio to a 16-over-par 226 for fourth place at the 4A state boys golf tournament.

Moats began the day on the back 9 of the course where he finished two-over-par. The Kadets senior recovered on the front nine where he hit birdies on holes four, six and seven to finish the day even.

Moats will tee off at 11:10 a.m. Tuesday for the final round and will be paired with Northridge’s Everett Lewis and Grand Junction’s Hunter Simmons, who also shot 70 in the first round.

The Kadet senior’s teammates, Ryan Dooms and Jack Brennan, are both tied for 36^th with an eight-over-par 78 and tee off at 9:10 and 9:20 a.m., respectively.

Falcon freshman Cayden Besler also holds a spot in the top 10 and is tied for ninth with a three-over-par 73 following his first round. Besler shot his lone birdie on hole 6 and had two double bogeys in his first round.

Last year’s 4A state champion, Cheyenne Mountain’s Brayden Destefano, is in a seven-way tie for 14^th with a four-over-par 74. The Red-Tailed Hawks, last year’s team champs, are tied for eighth place with a 21-over-par 231.

3A

Manitou Springs’ Hayden Dorsey shot an even-par 72 at Eagle Ranch Golf Course in Eagle and is in a two-way tie with Holy Family’s Bobby Flaherty, whom Dorsey is paired with ahead of Tuesday’s final round.

Dorsey hit birdie on the 6^th hole and carded a bogey on the 13^th hole, but shot even on 16 holes during his round.

The Mustangs junior finished 10^th last season and is currently two strokes ahead of 10^th place Levi McDowell of Resurrection Christian. The Classical Academy’s Grady Ortiz is just outside of the top 10 and is tied for 11^th place with a three-over-par 75.