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Rueth call his shot as Reed makes his read

John Rueth wasn’t Babe Ruth-like in his gesture and prediction, but as Stevenson’s boys golf coach stood behind the first tee box at The Arboretum Club on Tuesday, he got Reed Aren’s attention.

“I told him, ‘I think you’re going to shoot 35,’ ” Rueth said. “It was just a feeling.”

Ruth got it right, and so did Rueth.

The slender, 5-foot-7 Aren, who’s babe-built — not Babe-built — fired a 1-under 35 with 3 birdies on Arboretum’s front nine. The junior earned medalist honors and led host Stevenson (149) past Libertyville (168) in a North Suburban Lake Division showdown.

Rueth’s prediction might not have been that impressive had he known how many times Aren has shot the identical score for nine holes at the Buffalo Grove facility.

“I’ve shot 35 like six times (at Arboretum),” said Aren, who’s never had a 34 or better on the course.

Stevenson (3-0 NSC Lake) also got matching 37s from Nick Geissler and Jack Spellman, while Tim Kim carded a 40.

Alex Quenan led Libertyville (2-2) with a 38 and was the only Wildcat to break 40 on the overcast but calm afternoon.

Aren was 2-under through four holes, sinking birdie putts of 6 feet on the par-5 second and 4 feet on the par-4 fourth.

He bogeyed Nos. 5 and 6 but came back to birdie the eighth, hitting a 6-iron within 15 feet and sinking the putt.

“His short game is phenomenal and always has been,” Rueth said. “He’s hitting it a lot farther than he has in the past, and that’s why his game has gotten better. He’s 30 yards farther than he was last year. That makes a big difference.”

Aren, who shot a 76 at Ivanhoe on Monday and 72 at Shepherd’s Crook on Saturday, has been Stevenson’s most consistent golfer.

“He’s come a long way,” Rueth said. “He’s gotten a little bit bigger and stronger this year. He’s starting to understand why things are happening, so he can correct (his mistakes) on the golf course.”

“I was playing great in the summertime and then struggled at the beginning of the high school season,” said Aren, whose short game and putting are his strengths. “I’ve started to get it back. I’m playing better.”

Quenan continued his strong play for Libertyville, hitting 8 greens. He birdied the third.

“I worked a lot over the winter to help improve my game,” Quenan said. “It’s paying off now.”

Peter Henderson and Mike Mudd added a 42 and 43, respectively, for Libertyville. Andrew Ross and Tyler Erlandson of the Wildcats both shot a 45.

  Stevenson’s Nick Geissler chips onto the 5th hole during boys golf action Tuesday at Arboretum in Buffalo Grove. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Libertyville’s Andrew Ross hits out of the trap on 5th hole during boys golf action Tuesday at Arboretum in Buffalo Grove. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com
  Stevenson’s Reed Aren hits out of the trap on the 5th hole during boys golf action Tuesday at Arboretum in Buffalo Grove. Steve Lundy/slundy@dailyherald.com