Bartlett, BC's Weber shine at country club
Bartlett's first-place finish Tuesday at the Elgin Country Club boys golf invitational hosted by South Elgin surprised a few people. Count Hawks' coach Tom Boyle among them.
Boyle noted that his team has struggled in recent weeks. But led by a 77 from No. 1 Ryan Wolfe and a surprise 80 from No. 5 Chris Dungey, the Hawks soared in windy conditions.
Bartlett scored 322 to beat the host Storm by 6 strokes. Geneva finished third at 336.
Burlington Central's Matt Weber easily won medalist honors by making 6 birdies en route to a 68. South Elgin's Xavier Owens and St. Edward's Mike Holevas each shot a 75, and Wolfe's 77 was good for fourth place overall.
“I was 6 under through 12 holes. I gave a couple back at the end, but I was really happy with (the round),” said Weber, who had the chance to play some practice rounds on the course under similar conditions last weekend.
“That's my personal best here. I've played a little better at some other courses, but I was happy to shoot my low round here.”
Weber birdied 3 straight holes on the back 9 to pull away from the field.
As for Bartlett, the Hawks' putters carried them to victory.
“We were down by an average of 10 strokes a man today,” Boyle said. “Our highest putting total I had today was 31. Our putters really came around today, and that's really helped us a lot.”
Dungey's 80 from the fifth spot didn't hurt, either.
“I just shot what the golf course gave me,” said Dungey, a sophomore in a senior-laden lineup. “I was going for 79 on the last hole. I was trying to think lower.”
Owens' solid round and 3 other scores in the 80s led the Storm to a second-place finish.
“I'm happy for the guys, they shot well,” said South Elgin coach Jay Bartholomew.