Boys golf: Vercautren, Neuqua Valley take DVC

It was almost a tale of two nines for Jack Vercautren in his latest medalist performance for Neuqua Valley.

"It was a little boring on the front nine," the Wildcats' junior said after winning the DuPage Valley Conference boys golf championship with a level-par 71. "All pars, all greens (in regulation), 2-putts (per green) and one bogey."

But conditions changed at the turn for the worse.

"The back nine was more of a grind," Vercautren said. "I only hit 3 greens but managed to get one birdie out of the three."

Vercautren saved par on his other eight inward-nine holes to earn a 1-shot victory over Waubonsie Valley senior Jack Troy at Bartlett Hills Golf Club on Thursday.

As a team, Neuqua Valley came to Bartlett with much uncertainty on the line.

Tied with Wheaton Warrenville South for first place after the regular-season dual matches, the Wildcats also had Naperville North and Lake Park, which tied for third, to worry about in their bid for a conference title.

But Bryan Stogsdill was solo third for the Wildcats with a 75; Thomas Huang and Ben Clavey complemented their play with respective scores of 79 and 80.

Neuqua Valley held off surprise runner-up Naperville Central, which had four players in the 70s, by 5 strokes with its 315 total to defend its conference championship.

Waubonsie Valley was third with a 318; WW South was fourth at 320, followed by Wheaton North (324), Lake Park (327), Naperville North (329), Metea Valley (342) and Glenbard North (371).

"It was a grind out there," Stogsdill said of his round. "You had to recover out there on the next hole. (I) didn't hit that many fairways, didn't hit that many greens. The short game saved me today."

Tommy Dunsire, Tim Cesaria, Ryan Cagan and Jack Noha were a shot apart between 76 and 79 for Naperville Central.

The Redhawks reversed earlier defeats to Waubonsie Valley, WW South, Wheaton North, Lake Park and Naperville North.

"We couldn't catch a break," Naperville Central coach Barry Baldwin said of the dual losses. "We were snakebit until today. Hopefully, it kind of changes our momentum."

"We didn't play as well in the nine-hole matches," said Dunsire, fourth with his 76. "We wanted to show everyone that we are good. I'm pretty happy with the way I played today."

Troy had a pair of 36s in leading Waubonsie Valley, which also received contributions from Will Troy, Cade Kenyon and Nathan Martahan.

"Conditions were really tough," Troy said. "The wind added to (the rain). I'm a pretty good hard-conditions player. I just used that as motivation. What was working well was my putting. I had a couple of risky drives the last two holes but ended up making pars."

"(Jack Troy) is really starting to turn it on," Waubonsie Valley coach Eric Flodberg said. "He is peaking at the right time right now."