Jacobs wins Elgin Country Club Invitational

Billy Walker found the daunting challenges on Tuesday afternoon in Elgin to be a minor nuisance.

"I'm very pleased about the way I played," the Jacobs senior said after leading the Eagles to their fifth consecutive boys golf team championship this fall with a solo third-place 1-over par 73.

"I took my time and worked on the layout of the course and where I wanted to put my tee shots. I ground out some birdies. I ground out my round."

The Eagles' Justin Lenzeni was four off the pace set by his classmate as Jacobs' 310 team total was 10 shots better than Marmion at the Elgin Country Club Invitational.

Hampshire was third in the 20-team field behind runner-up Nick Swierczynski, who birdied his final hole on the shotgun start to fire a level-par 72.

Four shots separated Geneva, Batavia, host South Elgin, Huntley and Dundee-Crown, with West Aurora spearheading the next wave.

Burlington Central, Bartlett, St. Edward, Hoffman Estates, Larkin, Elgin Academy, West Chicago, Elgin and East Aurora rounded out the field.

Westminster Christian and Streamwood did not have enough competitors for a team score.

Jacobs has yet to lose this season in any of its multi-team tournaments.

"We have a deeper team than we had last year," Jacobs coach Gary Conrad said. "One guy plays bad, we have another one to step in there. We will trade in all the (regular-season) trophies to get the team downstate."

Justin Lenzeni is Jacobs' top-rated player.

"I feel like we're playing very consistently," said Lenzeni, who augmented Walker with a 77. "No one is going really low; we are all staying right there. I could have made a couple more putts today."

Garrett Tighe and Riley Coakley completed Jacobs' collective scorecard with a 79 and 81.

The Whips' Nick Swierczynski knew there was a chance to be medalist when he approached his final hole, a short par-5.

"I knew I had to birdie that hole to be in first or second," the Whips' senior said. "I thought 72 would do it. I was really happy with that."

But St. Edward senior Michael Mattas had wide-ranging intelligence on his side.

"It's my home course," Mattas said after his near-miraculous par save on the last left him at 1-under 71 on the day.

The Green Wave standout defended the individual title on a layout he fired a career-best 64 on two weeks ago.

"I think that it's a huge advantage, (especially) on the greens," Mattas said. "I know the lines, the breaks. I didn't drive it particularly well, (but) my putting stroke was solid all day."

Mattas' 5 birdies led the field.

Marmion continues to receive solid play from Johnny Callahan.

The Cadets' senior led the team once again with a 76, and Luke Hoss added a 78 to frame the 320 Marmion total.

"There were a lot of good chances to make birdies out there, and I took advantage of that," Callahan said.

"He has been playing some great golf this year," Marmion coach Doug Roberts said of Callahan.

"They are country-club greens," Hoss said of the layout. "Any kind of chance you had to putt on the greens, you had a chance to make birdie."