Scouting DuPage County boys golf
Top area teams: Naperville North, Hinsdale Central, Waubonsie Valley, Hinsdale South, Neuqua Valley, Naperville Central, Wheaton Warrenville South, Wheaton Academy, Benet, Glenbard South.
Top returning athletes: Addison Trail: Pat Hartnett, (sr.), Jimmy Jaskoske, (sr.), Derik VanHose, (sr.); Benet: A.J. Kenning, (sr.), Conor Ryan, (sr.), Quincy VanEkeren, ((sr.); Downers Grove North: Tristan Burnham, (sr.), Pat Lowry, (sr.); Downers Grove South: Colin Flynn, (sr.), Connor Herman, (sr.); Fenton: Oliver Dobon, (jr.), Sebastian Dobon, (fr.), Alex Lake, (sr.); Glenbard East: Justin Barg, (soph.), John Camcho, (sr.), Danny Carlson, (jr.), Greg Ludwig, (jr.); Glenbard South: Mitch Gasbarro, (sr.), Will Lear, (sr.), Adam Turner, (sr.); Glenbard North: Andrew Hilgers, (sr.), Guy Marino, (jr.), Cody Ruffalo, (sr.); Glenbard West: Peter Norgnard, (sr.), Danny Schlesser, (sr.), Trevor Toulouse, (sr.); Hinsdale Central: Harry Boling, (sr.), Trevor Jay, (sr.), David Whinery, (jr), Jeff Yoo, (soph.); Hinsdale South: David Basa, (jr.), Chris Kopp, (sr.), Jon Murtaugh, (sr.), Mike Schulz, (sr.); Metea Valley: Bill Finnerty, (sr.), Adam Kreiner, (sr.), Matt Marsh, (sr.); Naperville Central: Henry Conforti, (sr.), Jack Hawes, (jr.), Tim Leiser, (sr.), Peter Mandich, (jr.); Naperville North: Michael Doherty, (soph.), Jake Dunham, (jr.), Eric Izzo, (sr.), Raymond Knoll, (jr.); Neuqua Valley: Jason Roache, (sr.), Nick Rouches, (sr.), Alex Sanderson, (sr.), Greg Schwager, (jr.); West Chicago: Kyle Martens, (sr.), Dino Parducci, (jr.), Sean Sayfar, (sr.); Waubonsie Valley: Tate Anderson, (soph.), Eric Copeland, (jr.), Alex Koulos, (sr.), Alec Meyer, (sr.); Wheaton Academy: Jack Anderson, (sr.); Danny Gryfinski, (jr.); Lars Olson, (sr.), Elio Vento, (sr.); Wheaton North: Sam Otto, (sr.), Michael Suazo, (fr.); Wheaton Warrenville South: Tee-K Kelly, (sr.), Will Kelly (fr.), Colin McCaffrey, (soph.), Christian Westergaard, (soph.); York: Tanner Obal, (jr.), Joe Wark, ( jr.).
Scouting report: Thomas O'Bryan won the Class 3A state championship in boys golf last fall in a two-hole playoff, and the Waubonsie Valley product — about to continue his career at the University of Wisconsin-Madison — had a hot pursuer in Naperville North junior Knoll. The Huskies' leader eventually settled for fifth place in helping his team to third place overall. “I would like to get downstate as a team,” Knoll said. “Winning state is my major goal.”
The two large-school team state qualifiers — Naperville North and Hinsdale Central — are once again at the forefront of the area powers. Knoll lost all five of his teammates to graduation, but the Huskies' depth separates them from mere mortals. “We have had a very successful frosh-soph team the last two years,” Naperville North coach Ryan Hantak said. “I think they have been undefeated (in dual-match play). (Knoll) is a big-time player. Most people think he's one of the better players in the state.” Izzo was the Huskies' seventh man last fall, and his hot start out of the gate — including a 68 on Tuesday — augers well for the program.
Wheaton Warrenville South senior Kelly is another legitimate contender for all the marbles at Bloomington later this fall. The two-time state qualifier had a remarkable summer, climaxed by his seventh-place showing at the state men's open. Kelly is being heavily recruited by several Big Ten schools. “(Kelly) is right there with the best golfers (in the state),” WW South coach Jimmy Selleck said. “We have to work together to get better as a team.”
Naperville North and WW South — with Naperville Central as a potential spoiler — have been anointed as the teams to beat in the rugged DuPage Valley Conference. The Redhawks will count on the formidable 1-2 punch of Lieser and Mandich. “I've got three kids putting up big numbers (that is, low scores),” Naperville Central coach Barry Baldwin said. “If we can find a fourth (score), we'll be right there with everybody else.”
West Chicago senior Martens is another player with eyes on a state appearance.
Sister schools Waubonsie Valley, Neuqua Valley and Metea Valley are all viable contenders for the Valley Division of the Upstate Eight Conference. Meyer and Koulos were members of the Warriors' downstate contingent as underclassmen two years ago. The former started off the season with a medalist-earning 3-under 69 at the season-opening Bob Sterr Redhawk Open on Monday. “(I) just want to enjoy my last year,” Meyer said. “(I want) to look back on it and realize we didn't miss out on anything.”
Neuqua Valley is historically dangerous, and the Wildcats captured the prestigious Bartonville Limestone Invitational Saturday with a 293 total. Kreiner and Finnerty have been on varsity since Metea Valley opened two years ago. “It's great to see lower scores come up,” Metea Valley coach Ryan Hall said. “It gives you a positive outlook.”
In the two West Suburban Conference divisions, Downers Grove South seeks a ninth consecutive Gold championship. Hinsdale Central returns three players from its state contingent from last fall. Glenbard West suffered a serious blow when three-time state qualifier Kyle Kochevar, who has verbally committed to the University of Virginia — elected to forgo his senior season to play national tournaments. The finest player in either division could very well be Jaskoske at Addison Trail; the skilled southpaw became the first state qualifier in the last two decades for the Blazers last fall. “He owns all the school records,” Addison Trail coach Tom Hubner said of his prized pupil. “I would like to see him in the top 10 at state. That's where he belongs.”
Kopp returns from his first foray at state last year to propel Hinsdale South. “I would have to think that Chris Kopp is one of the best players in the state,” Hinsdale South coach Bruce Kendrick said.
Among the smaller schools in the area, Glenbard South and Wheaton Academy have strong pedigrees to earn state inclusion at the Class 2A level. Turner, eighth in state last fall in the middle-tier competition, leads three returnees for Glenbard South, 10th overall last year. “I'm replacing (the three graduated team members) with good players,” Glenbard South coach Scott Iliff said. “With those three (returnees) I can get some depth from the other kids.”
Key Dates: Sept.3, Buffalo Grove Invitational; Sept. 3, Fenton Invitational; Sept. 10, Batavia Invitational; Sept. 14, Aurora City Tournament; Sept. 24, Hinsdale Central Invitational; Week of Sept. 26, Conference championships; Oct. 1, Lake Park Invitational; Oct. 1, LaSalle-Peru Invitational.
Predicted state champions: Class 1A: Mt. Carmel; Class 2A: Belleville Althoff Catholic; Class 3A: Lake Forest.
— Kevin McGavin