It's a downstate dream come true for St. Viator

According to St. Viator senior John Carlson, excelling in Monday's boys golf sectional at Bridges of Poplar Creek was a case of mind over matter.

"I didn't come in with a lot of confidence," said Carlson. "I wasn't pleased with the way I've been playing golf lately. Last night, I sat down to think about it, and I just started to get the feeling that I was going to play well and I got a good feeling that we were going to do well as a team."

The senior's late-night meditation proved to be right on, as Carlson fired a 74 to earn the fifth-place medal at Poplar and lead his team to a score of 305 and a berth in this weekend's state finals at Bloomington.

York won the sectional with a team score of 301 to advance to the difficult "Den" at Fox Creek Golf course this Friday and Saturday for the state meet, as Will Gunst won medalist honors with a 1-under 69.

Dukes junior Mark Leali assisted in the win by shooting 75.

"I'm happy with my score," said Leali, "considering I bogeyed the first three holes and the last two. I was a little nervous on No. 1 - it's a tough hole to tee off on when you're not loose. But I was able to pipe it right down the middle of the fairway."

New Trier claimed the other team qualification slot with a score of 311.

Carlson, who finished with one of the better scores of the tourney, said his morning didn't begin as well as he would have liked - so the senior decided that he needed a little self-motivation.

"I started out with a couple of bogeys," said Carlson, "so I just started talking to myself and told myself to get it together."

The day improved drastically from that point on, punctuated by a birdie on the par-5 eighth that really got him going.

"After a poor drive," said Carlson, "I was about 200 yards downwind (from the hole), and I knew that sometimes I can catch the downwind with an 8-iron. I caught it and hit it pin high and was able to chip in."

The final three holes of the day proved to be treacherous for most of the competitors due to 25-mph winds, and Carlson said he enjoyed "one of the best shots I've ever hit" on the 18th, when into a stiff crosswind he hit a 4-iron from 190 yards within 10 feet of the hole.

Matt Trimberger (third place overall) added a 73, and freshman Tim Crawford (fifth) posted a 75 to assist in the Lions' advancement, while Prospect junior Robert Garmoe, as usual, was putting the team first over his own individual efforts.

"I hung in there today," said Garmoe, who tied Crawford for the fifth-place medal. "I was just looking for a solid score to help our team advance."

Garmoe, who won last week's Old Orchard regional, excelled with a 74 to move on to Bloomington. Unfortunately the Knights, despite some top scores like the 80 shot by John Branch, fell a few strokes short of going to Bloomington as a team.

Garmoe's superb effort was no surprise to his coach.

"Robert has the ability to rise to the occasion, no doubt about it," said Knights coach Tom Martindale. "He was certainly up to the task today. He thrives in these type of environments.

"How he got to this point is simple - grit, gind and hard work. Robert is one of the hardest-working young men I've ever known, and he comes from an outstanding family as well."

Interestingly, the sectional leaderboard Monday was posted - to the amusement of some fans - in the Poplar site's outdoor wedding area.

"I kind of like it this way," said Kelly Voigt, the Conant JV golf coach who was posting the scores. "It's very convenient for the people who came out. The've got a place to sit - normally at an event like this, people are just milling about everywhere."

"Just a great day out here," added Conant's Gail Beard, a former Cougars educator who was assisting at the event. "Beautiful, including the weather."

Some more top local scores from that leaderboard included a 78 by York's Mitchell Russell, a 79 from Phil Duncan of Lake Park, 80s from Nick Rhyan and James O'Donnell of Rolling Meadows, and an 81 by Nick Tudor of Schaumburg.

Jack Knott of Prospect shot 82, while Liam Warner of Viator excelled with an 83 and Tom Manning of York finished with a stellar 84.

Nick Tenuta of Prospect carded a 79, and before the final marks were put on the board, said he was wishing for the Knights to move on as a team - something that wasn't to be despite the fine showing.

"It would be awesome," said Tenuta, "but that's just the way it goes - you have to wait for everything to shake out and just see what happens."