Lake Forest, Stevenson go 1-2 at county invite

The Lake County boys golf invitational at Fox Lake Country Club became a battle with mother nature on Monday afternoon.

First a thunderstorm delayed the start of the event.

The coaches of the 15-school event decided to make it a 9-hole shotgun start, instead of the planned 18 holes.

Then, a couple of hours later, another 45-minute delay came after most golfers had finished eight holes.

"We made it this far, why don't we get it all done and completed?" wondered Zion-Benton coach Spence Voss while waiting to get the golfers back on the course.

And yes, after the delay, completion was achieved.

Lake Forest won the Lake County Invitational for the first time in a couple of years with a team score of 148, while Stevenson carded the second spot with a better fifth score to edge Deerfield after both finished at 150.

"We have a team that this course is suited for," Stevenson coach John Rueth said. "We hit it straight and don't have the biggest guys. We're getting better and we have three kids back from last year that have a lot of experience. They are used to playing competitive golf."

Seniors Jason Gohde (37) and Luke Feder (39) along with sophomore Kamaren Sandhu (37) led Stevenson. Other key Patriots scores came from Kevin Chin (37), Jake LaBow (39) and Will Sebastian (40).

"I really didn't start off to well with a double (bogey), but then came back with a birdie," Sandhu said. "It really didn't bother me, I just had to keep things going."

Mundelein finished in fourth place with 158. Brett Parola led the Mustangs with 36. Ryan Magee added a 39, followed by Tyler White (41), Nick Chuma (42), John Lentz (42) and Jeff Lee (45).

Individually, Eric Bagg of Deerfield won medalist honors with a 34. Jack Garrity of Lake Forest shot a 35. After Parola's 36 were Mac Montagne from Lake Forest, Highland Park's Noah Apter, Warren's Jack Hansen and Stevenson's Chin at 37.

Going through the delays challenged Parola.

"It was rough with the wait, because I had my mind set for 18," Parola said. "I was a little frustrated to hear it was going to be nine. Biggest part of my game was that I get off the tee well.

"The greens were soft and the conditions were soft out there. It wasn't too bad."

Hansen started out with an errant shot that put him under a tree on his opening hole on No. 9. But he found his way back to the green and managed to get par. But it took Hansen a couple holes to get his game together.

"I was put back a couple of shots," Hansen said. "I picked it up and found something with my swing to get it together over the remaining holes. I'm used to playing 18, but when you play nine it's a different mindset - you have to score quickly. You have to keep the scores low. If you play 18 then you have a chance to make it up."