Waubonsie wins 4th straight Aurora City title
Waubonsie Valley left no doubts in Illinois' second-most populous city for the fourth year in a row.
Senior Jason Marrs' level-par 71 not only was the low score in the Aurora City Championship; the Warriors placed all six players in the 70s to emerge as the boys golf headliners Wednesday afternoon at Phillips Park Golf Club.
Waubonsie Valley won its fourth consecutive city team title with its 296 total; Marmion also had all five of its players break 80 to finish with a 301.
Metea Valley maintained the trend with a pair of players in the top five to finish third with a 305.
West Aurora (327), Aurora Central Catholic (347), Aurora Christian (349) and East Aurora (454) rounded out the team scores.
IMSA, due to classroom conflicts, could not field a full team.
“It's the first time we have come together as a team this year,” Marrs said after his 1-under inward nine enabled the senior to hold off Metea Valley senior Matt Marsh and Marmion junior Ricky Ansten by a stroke.
Marrs' course knowledge, gleamed from his participation in the First Tee program, paid mighty dividends.
“I know what to hit on every hole,” said Marrs, who canceled a pair of bogeys with an equal number of birdies.
Returning state qualifier Eric Copeland fired a 74 for Waubonsie Valley; Austin Datz was one behind from the fifth slot, while Tate Anderson and Andrew Heinen fired matching 76s for the Warriors.
Marsh toured his inward nine in 2-under 33 for the low nine-hole total.
“It could have been so much better,” Marsh said. “I lipped out so many putts on the back nine.”
Jeremy Forbes' 75 earned the Metea Valley sophomore a tie for sixth with Datz.
Marmion had its margin of error virtually nullified when top-rated senior Liam Creamer was forced to withdraw on his second nine due to illness.
But the Cadets' remaining players more than picked up the slack.
Ansten anchored the squad with his 1-over total.
“Nine and 10, I had back-to-back birdies, which really helped a lot,” the St. Charles resident said. “I was playing very consistently — a lot of pars and 4 birdies. I knew the greens were kind of slow, so I was just trying to adapt.”
Joe Fritz fashioned a pair of 37s for Marmion; J.R. Fredstrom had a 78 for the Cadets, with Brett Koskinen and Luke Hoss posting 79s for the fourth score.
“I was telling the guys that I would take 301 any day, all day,” Marmion coach Doug Roberts said. “Waubonsie played crazy good today. To have all six guys in the 70s is unreal. The thing I'm really happy about is the scores the guys are putting up on a regular basis. It's not a novelty anymore.”
Marmion is the reigning Class 2A state runner-up but will compete in the large-school division this year.
West Aurora continues to steadily reduce its tournament scores this fall.
Bailey Jackson had seven straight pars on his back nine to shoot the Blackhawks' low nine-hole score with a 37.
The senior finished with an 81, which junior Mike Golich later matched.
Blake Kaufmann had an 82 for West Aurora, which had Ottavio Dattolo and Jonathan Hunecke round out the team score with 85s.
“I adjusted some things through my swing,” Bailey said of his difference after the turn. “I adjusted my alignment and started to hit the ball better.”
Sean Harreld was the low man for Aurora Central Catholic after two 39s enabled the junior to hover in the top-12 individually.
“Sean has been real steady (all season),” ACC coach Jim Parker said. “He always thinks he can do better, but every kid thinks that.”
Nick Romero and Jesse Sutton had 86s to pace Aurora Christian; Max Ackerman did likewise for IMSA with an 84.