Neuqua Valley's hot season continues

By his own admission, Matt Rouches has had his fair share of difficulties on the golf course this fall.

"I haven't been playing that well this season," the Neuqua Valley junior said.

But Rouches' game was well-suited for Bartlett Hills on Monday afternoon.

Playing as the sixth man for the Wildcats, Rouches anchored Neuqua Valley to its fifth boys golf tournament title this season with a medalist round of 4-over 75 in Bartlett.

"Things are starting to come around," Rouches said.

Thomas Huang was runner-up for the Wildcats with a 77; Nick Walker was a stroke better than 80, and Jack Vercautren finished with an 81 to give Neuqua Valley a 312 team score at the Elgin Invitational.

DuPage Valley Conference rival Lake Park was runner-up at 320; Geneva was third at 322.

South Elgin placed fourth, followed by Bartlett, Dundee-Crown, St. Charles North, Hoffman Estates, Larkin and Elgin. Streamwood had individuals only.

Rouches' composite nine-hole scores of 38-37 were fashioned by way of a refined short game.

"My ball-striking wasn't that great," Rouches said. "I was giving myself a lot of good chances on par putts. I made a lot of good five- and six-footers for par."

Depth has been a constant for Neuqua Valley as defending Class 2A state champion Morton is the lone program to best the Wildcats this year.

Glenbard North is the Wildcats' last remaining obstacle to an undefeated dual-match campaign during its inaugural year in the DuPage Valley Conference.

"We have so many guys who can post a score," Huang said. "The depth of the team has been important to us."

"I have been preaching to the guys the importance of team golf," Neuqua Valley coach Bart Carbonneau said. "It's been different guys (scoring) all the time."

Lake Park senior Phil Duncan was third overall with his 77.

"We're trying to find that fifth and sixth score," Lake Park coach Dan Batka said. "We're depending on a lot of our younger players to score for us."

Youth has been a prominent theme for Geneva this season.

Jack McDonald, one of two freshmen starters for the Vikings, was fifth in leading Geneva to its third-place result.

"I have been playing for a really long time," said McDonald, who was three shots off the lead. "I'm starting to get bigger. I'm starting to hit (the ball) farther. My short game and accuracy is the best part of my game."

"Getting the younger kids involved is fantastic," Geneva coach Eric Hatczel said.

South Elgin senior Nate Reeser used local knowledge to deny McDonald for fourth place on a scorecard playoff.

"I definitely know where to hit the ball," Reeser said of Bartlett Hills, home course for the Storm. "It definitely gives you an advantage. You know how to play the course."

Walker, Dundee-Crown sophomore JP Anderson, Geneva junior Andrew Abel and Lake Park sophomore Luke Tytus rounded out the top nine.