Comfortable Jacobs takes Charger Classic title
Consider it an inside job.
Course knowledge gave the Jacobs boys golf team enough confidence to snap Fremd’s title streak at the 39th Annual Dundee-Crown Charger Invitational at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee Saturday.
Fremd won the previous three Charger Invitationals and the Vikings were poised for a four-peat after carding a team score of 298.
However, the Golden Eagles, playing on their home course, edged Fremd by 4 strokes to win the in the 17-team event for the first time in school history.
Cary-Grove finished third (309), followed by Benet Academy (321), Crystal Lake Central (322), Palatine (325), Marian Central (326), St. Edward (327), Geneva (329) and Bartlett (331).
The tournament victory was the second this season for the Golden Eagles. They also won the Elgin Country Club title and finished second at the Huntley Invitational at Crystal Woods.
“I’m excited,” said Jacobs senior Cam Bodie, who matched senior teammate Sean Kozak with a 70. “This is our first time winning the Charger in 39 years. It’s a big deal.”
Bodie not only plays his home matches at Randall Oaks, he also works there. He plays the Par-71 layout regularly, which, according to Jacobs coach Jeremy Bauer, was an advantage Saturday when Bodie shot 5 strokes better than his previous low score as a varsity golfer.
“He knows this course as well as anybody out here,” Bauer said. “He plays this course exclusively. He was a little excited about his round because at one point he was 4-under. He started thinking about numbers and possibilities and got a little excited. Still, this is a terrific score for him and he’s got nothing to be disappointed about.”
Bodie and Kozak were supported by a Chris Boyle’s 73, good for sixth place, and Andrew Heiserman’s 81.
Fremd junior Jamie Drost won the individual title. He shot 4-under par (67) to win the event by 3 strokes, buoyed by 6 birdies.
“I was hitting my driver really well,” Drost said. “I just hit fairways and green after green, and I made a couple of putts. This is the lowest score for me ever by 3 strokes. The greens were fast. My coach told me they rolled them twice this morning and they were spinning a lot, too. The course was nice. It was in good condition.”
Drost sank a tough putt on his final hole of the shotgun start tournament, which eased the memory of a three-putt on No. 6. “It was a really tough putt and it went in,” Drost said. “I was glad I made it.”
Fremd’s Dylan Norys finished eighth overall (75), followed by matching scores of 78 from teammates Gibsyn Martin and Josh Rosenzweig.
Cary-Grove’s Jarrett Kinney shot an even-par 71 to finish fourth individually. His score, along with teammate Brandon Diblasi’s 72, lifted the Trojans to third place. Like many golfers, Kinney felt he left some shots on the course.
“I actually missed a lot of opportunities,” Kinney said. “I was 2-under with 3 to go and bogeyed 2 holes coming in. But I had it all going. I hit a lot of fairways and I was sticking it close.”
Crystal Lake South’s Austin Wiggerman finished seventh (74). Rounding out the top 10 were Augie Buettner of Marian Central (75) and Paul Schlimm of Crystal Lake Central (76). Bartlett’s Alex Wolfe shot 75 to lead the Hawks, and Benet’s Alex Bassetto paced the Redwings (76).
However, no team could match the overall steady play of Jacobs, which placed three golfers among the top six.
“I just told the guys to relax,” Bauer said. “Don’t push too hard and just play the course because you guys know the course pretty well. Take what it gives you. A lot of the guys played pretty well, had their ups and downs and just fought through it. I was really proud of the guys.”