Faith Lutheran freshman leads 4A state golf tournament

Aidan Goldstein’s strategy for Monday’s opening round at the Class 4A state golf tournament wasn’t complicated, but it certainly was effective.  “I just played my game,” Goldstein said. “I just tried to go out and have fun and tried to knock my shots right next to the pin and make them.”  The Faith Lutheran freshman shot 3-under-par 69 at Reflection Bay to take the individual lead after the first day of the tournament.  Goldstein was 1 over after a bogey on the fourth hole, but finished the front nine with two birdies to reach 1 under.  He added birdies on Nos. 11 and 14 and closed with four consecutive pars.   “I had a lot of good shots,” Goldstein said. “My short game was really good today and my driving was on point.”  Bishop Gorman’s Mitchell Abbott is one shot back. Arbor View’s Hazen Newman and Coronado’s Brett Sodetz are tied for third at 71. Tuesday’s final round begins at 11 a.m.  Abbott took the early advantage while playing in the first group. He birdied the par-5 14th to move to 5 under. But after bogeying No. 15, Abbott pushed his tee shot at the 16th to the right of the fairway. His approach shot avoided the bunker to the left of the green, but it took him two shots to pitch onto the green. Two putts later he walked away with double bogey.  Newman was 3-under through 17, but took a double bogey on the final hole to fall off the lead.