Hampshire boys golf team claims regional title
Hampshire boys golf coach Jeff Howe knew his team had a chance to get out of the Class 2A Marengo regional at Marengo Ridge Tuesday. He also knew the Whip-Purs would have to play extremely well if they were to win the program's first regional championship.
Done and done.
Junior Nick Swierczynski shot a 75 to lead three Hampshire players with sub-80 rounds and the Whips shot a 312 as a team to beat out Burlington Central by 2 shots and earn a regional championship plaque and a spot in next Monday's Grayslake Central sectional at Stonewall Orchard in Grayslake.
"It's pretty exciting," said Howe. "It's been a bit of a rough road. We've been able to put together three good scores but today they came together as a group and played well. We haven't put three scores in the 70s this year."
Sophomore Myles Miller IV had a 77 for Hampshire, while senior Drew Doran carded a 79 and senior Jake Tuttle came in with an 81.
"Nick's 75 was pretty impressive," said Howe, now in his ninth year at the helm of the program. "I've always known he was capable of that. That gave us a good edge.
"It's really special for us. We really executed today."
Burlington Central advanced to the sectional behind a 75 from senior Austin Niesel. The Rockets also got a 78 from sophomore Jordan Souvigny, an 80 from senior Andrew Sherman and 81s from sophomore Jon Sherman and senior Jacob Ledebuhr.
Genoa-Kingston grabbed the third qualifying spot with a 331. The Cogs had the meet medalist in junior Nick Adamczyk, who shot a 71.
Class 3A at McHenry: Cary-Grove shot a 318 to earn the third and final team qualifying spot out of the McHenry regional at McHenry Country Club. The Trojans will play in the Lake Forest sectional at Lake Bluff Golf Course on Monday. Junior Kyle Irlbacker led the Trojans with a 73, while sophomore Zack Beaugureau and junior Mitch Whitehouse each had 80s and junior Keaton May an 85. Barrington won the regional title with a 299. Broncos' sophomore Tom Calbi was medalist with a 72. Prairie Ridge took second place with a 312. Crystal Lake South junior Brandon Dahl advanced individually with an 81, while the Gators finished sixth as a team with a 346.
Class 1A at Byron: Westminster Christian senior Andrew Howard (80) and Warriors' junior Dillon Rejman (85) advanced out of the Class 1A Byron regional at Prairie View and will play Monday in the Seneca sectional at Nettle Creek in Morris. Elgin Academy junior Frankie Bisconti had an 83 and will also play in Monday's sectional. Westminster finished fifth as a team with a 348 and Elgin Academy was sixth with a 355. Harvest Christian shot 421 to finish 10th. North Shore Country Day won the team title with a 308 with junior medalist Drew Miles shooting a 74 to lead the way.
John Radtke contributed to this report.