Top golfers split into different regionals

It was annually the ultimate war of attrition between the largest-class division of boys golf for the first round of the postseason.

But the eight Class 3A programs in Aurora and Naperville will not come face-to-face until the St. Charles East sectional on Columbus Day at St. Andrews in West Chicago.

"It's nice that we are split up from some of the heavy hitters that are in our conference (the DuPage Valley) now," Waubonsie Valley coach Eric Flodberg said.

"I know (Naperville Central) coach Barry (Baldwin) and I are pleased with the (regional) draw," Naperville North coach Ryan Hantak said. "It is nice that (the IHSA) split (the Aurora and Naperville high schools) up. You have a little bit of parity now."

But there are no guarantees for the sectional other than its extraordinary depth.

Last year at Prairie Bluff, two-time defending state champion Hinsdale Central was collectively under par in leading fellow West Suburban Silver powers York and Lyons Twp. to the state tournament.

The Red Devils ultimately ran their state streak to three in a row.

Wheaton Warrenville South and Benet had to sit on the sidelines as a team in Bloomington despite averaging less than 75 strokes per player at the sectional.

"It is the sectional of death," Baldwin said. "In terms of (regional) separation, the sectional is so hard that it really doesn't help. The sectional is unbelievably difficult."

The three Naperville programs - all of whom advanced out of the corresponding regional last year - face off at the Redhawks' first preliminary at Carillon.

"We have a good chance to get out if we play well," Hantak said.

"I feel pretty confident about making it out of there," said Neuqua Valley coach Bart Carbonneau, whose squad ran the table en route to the DuPage Valley Conference championship. "But if you look at the possible parings in the sectional, it is going to be brutal again."

Oswego, Glenbard West and Larkin are the other regional host schools for the St. Charles East sectional.

Hinsdale Central and WW South are the leading contenders to advance out of Village Links in Glen Ellyn.

"It's a long course," WW South coach Jimmy Selleck said. "We can hit the ball out there and are fairly accurate. We've got as a good a shot as anybody, so we're looking forward to the challenge."

Survival of the fittest:

Prairie Bluff will be the site for the deepest Class AA girls regional on Wednesday as Naperville North, Naperville Central and Benet will have to grapple with the likes of defending state champion Hinsdale Central and a rejuvenate Downers Grove North.

The Red Devils have yet to be vanquished this season.

"Absolutely," Naperville North coach Greta Williams said when asked if the Hinsdale South regional was the toughest in the state. "Hinsdale Central essentially has a spot, and Downers North is really good. Hopefully, we can be one of the other two (qualifiers)."

Neuqua Valley senior Jessica Yuen will begin defense of her back-to-back state championships at the Waubonsie Valley regional at Springbrook in Naperville; the Missouri-bound Yuen will play on her home course at Naperbrook for the sectional.

Hear the Lions roar:

The Lisle girls are part of the Class A Nazareth sectional complex.

The Lions avenged a regular-season Interstate Eight Conference loss to Plano to defend their league title last week at the Dwight Country Club with a 375-380 triumph over the Reapers.

"(The club) had turtleback greens, and the greens were really fast," Lisle coach Scott Waibel said. "Chipping and putting were at a premium."

Hanna Altpeter, Savannah Zink, Anna Pawlicka and Bella Daly were all in the top seven to power Lisle.