It’s not how you start; it’s how you finish.

For Berthoud High sophomore Christian Foxworth, who on Monday afternoon carded a season-best 83 at Boomerang Golf Links in Greeley in the 3A Region 3 championships to punch his ticket the state championships, that applies in more ways than one.

Foxworth began his round on the course’s challenging back nine and things went sideways, literally, when he splashed his opening tee shot in the water hazard to the right of the 10th fairway. The sophomore did not let the miscue off the tee ruin the rest of his round, however, and after taking a penalty stroke hit an eight iron to within 75 yards of the green, stuck his approach shot close and one-putted for bogey.

“That kind of shook my nerve playing with some of the top players in the state,” Foxworth said.

Yet he had a four-putt on the next hole, a 561-yard par five that runs alongside 71^st Ave., and ended up double-bogey seven. Another double followed on the par 3 12^th. Sitting at five over par just three holes into the make-or-break regional tournament, Foxworth could have thrown in the towel.

But no.

He recovered from the first three holes to par four of the next six holes and make the turn with a respectable seven-over 43, showing poise beyond his years and putting himself into position to reach his season goal – qualifying for the state tournament.

Foxworth explained he entered the tournament knowing the opening nine would present a challenge and discussed with his three varsity teammates – Charlie Hoskins, Lochlan McNair and Landon Kuntz – that surviving the first nine holes would be key as the second nine at Boomerang does not present as much of a challenge.

“I said to the them at least we start on the back nine because if do not do well on the back we can always come back and shoot well on the front,” Foxworth said. “On the front, people can shoot under par as easily on that front nine. There are a lot of simple holes that don’t get in your way, the greens are more simple. I knew we had a chance as soon as we made the turn because I was able to keep it to just seven over 43 on the back.”

Foxworth attacked the back nine, finishing with five pars and four bogeys, to shoot a four-over par 40, that propelled him to a tie for 13^th place in the 70-player field.

The sophomore, who just picked up golf last year, has improved steadily and consistently throughout the season. His best round of the year, his best round ever in tournament golf, came at just the right time. Foxworth explained that he has made strides in all aspects of his game and has gained particular confidence with his driver.

Said Foxworth, “At the beginning of the year I wouldn’t even touch my driver. But (at Regionals) I felt like it was one of the most trustworthy clubs in my bag just because I knew I could hit the fairway with it.”

He further added that he has learned the importance of staying strong mentally, becoming aware that one, two or even three bad holes does not have to ruin an 18-hole round. “The part of my game where I think I have improved the most is my mental game because my swing in pretty natural but my mental game helped me the most. For me to be able to come back from being five over on the first three holes was pretty nice.”

As a team, the Spartans finished in a tie with Resurrection Christian for sixth place, posting a 258. McNair qualified for state as an alternate, shooting an 86 which included a stellar two-over 38 on the second nine. Hoskins, the team’s lone senior, 89 (49-40) and Kuntz scored 95 (45-50).

While highly pleased with qualifying for the state championships, Foxworth said he is going to make the long trip to Gunnison with the sole goal of enjoying himself. “I wanted to make state this year and I did so I’m just going to go down there and have fun,” he said. “I’m not going to put pressure on myself, no matter what I do I’m going to go out there and have fun and if I put pressure on myself it’s not going to end up how I want it to. If I’m going to miss school I might as well make it fun.”

The two-day, 36-hole 3A state golf tournament will be held at Dos Rios Golf Club in Gunnison Oct. 5-6.