Two top-ranked Bishop Gorman golfers voluntarily stepped aside from a key league match to give teammates a chance to compete, a move their coach called emblematic of the team’s selfless culture.
Sophomores Colton Rubenstein and Scott Boschee were invited to represent Nevada in the Jay Don Blake Border War match in Salt Lake City on April 16, but the event conflicted with the Gaels’ final Mountain League match. Both players held top-three spots in the league rankings, meaning sitting out would cost them a shot at the individual regular-season title and player of the year honors.
They chose to withdraw anyway, opening spots for senior Marco Mora and moving senior Colby Hutton to the top of the lineup. Mora chipped in for birdie on his final shot to earn his varsity letter, and Hutton had the best match of his career, nailing a 105-yard eagle shot in front of nearly two dozen family members to win the league event at TPC Summerlin. Despite missing two of their best players, the Gaels won the team title, completing a sweep of all five regular-season events.
“I knew I was in first place in points,” Rubenstein said. “But Marco playing in that last league match had more value than me winning player of the year.”
Boschee echoed the sentiment: “It was a joint decision. We were both high in the (season) points. Being No. 1 in the points is cool and everything, but being able to represent Team Nevada was also a big thing. And it gave Marco a chance to play.”
The duo then helped Nevada win the Border War match. Now the Gaels are focused on winning their first 5A state championship since 2023. The Southern Region match is May 6-7 at Mountain Falls, with state set for May 12-13 at Boulder Creek.
Coach Dusty Allen praised the selflessness: “I am proud of the fact that our makeup from top to bottom takes the team aspect very seriously. You get the sense that the boys are in it for each other, and a team championship would mean more to them than an individual championship.”
