Boys golf: Marmion takes team title; Kaneland's Marshall individual champ

A little preparation went a long way for the Marmion Academy boys' golf team.

The Cadets used a practice round Sunday at Hughes Creek in Elburn to familiarize themselves with the course. That preview helped Marmion navigate Hughes Creek when it counted most Tuesday during the Class 2A Kaneland regional.

Marmion generated four scores in the 70s to win the regional with a 302 team score, three spots ahead of host Kaneland. St. Francis snared the third team-qualifying spot in next Monday's sectional at Old Orchard Country Club in Mt. Prospect.

"We had a chance to see the course early and we knew where to hit it," said Marmion coach Mike Rodriguez. "We played solid golf. We didn't make mistakes. The guys did a good job thinking their way around the course as a team. The course set up well for our guys."

Senior Nick Huggins, a team captain, played a key role in that preparation. "As a team captain, especially in the postseason, I want to make it as much of a team sport as possible. I gave each guy a game plan that fit their routine and capabilities so they could go out and play smart and get the best score they could," he said.

Huggins led the Cadets with a 72 and was followed on the scorecard by junior Jimmy Morton (74), sophomore Peter Thayer (77) and senior Sean Regan (79).

Rodriguez noted Morton drained a 40-foot putt on 18 for eagle, while Thayer birdied the same hole to come in at 77. The coach also lauded the play of Regan over the last 13 holes.

"Sean was plus-6 after five and ended up only plus-7," said Rodriguez. "Way to grind out a round. Peter also was a bright spot for the team and Jimmy played really well and had that eagle on 18."

Huggins said two key parts of his game were on at Hughes Creek. "My chipping was good and I hit it well off the tee," he said. "I chipped one in for a birdie. It was good to know when I missed the green I still was able to get up and down for par."

Huggins added Marmion is up for Monday's challenge in Mt. Prospect. "I keep telling the guys to take the momentum now and not be cocky, but be confident," he said. "If we play like we know we can play, we are capable. But we know we have go out there and play our best."

Aurora Central Catholic's Mac Cowen also enjoyed success at Hughes Creek, firing an even-par 72.

"It was a good start to the postseason," he said. "My driver was working well and I was able to take advantage of a lot of the par-5s. I got my wedges going in the back and was able to stick it close and make putts."

Cowen, a 2-time state qualifier, particularly caught fire during the tail-end of his round, birding 15, 16 and 18 after going into 15 at plus-3.

"I felt like I was playing well, but not dropping a lot of putts," Cowen said of his play earlier in the round. "On 15 I hit a 20-footer for birdie and that was my longest putt all day to that point. I drove the green on 16 and it hit the cart path and went on the green and then on 18 I was up by the green and got up and down for birdie."

Cowen will be joined at the sectional by freshman teammate Nathan Turco, who also qualified as an individual with an 83.

Runner-up Kaneland shot 305 behind individual regional champion Will Marshall's 4-under 68. Seniors Jake Hed (79), Brett Glennon (77) and Jacob Milton (81) rounded out the Knights' scoring.

Marshall was powered by 8 birdies during his round evenly distributed between four on the front and four more on the back.

"My putting was really nice," the sophomore said. "I was hitting a lot of putts and my driver was good. I slowed down and took it hole by hole. My mental game was very strong today."

Marshall, a state-qualifier as a freshman, quickly recovered after a double bogey to open the round. "After the first hole I still had confidence because I knew my team would pick me up even if I didn't do well. That's what kept me driving and grinding out there," he said.

Marshall said the signature hole for him came on 15 when he drove his tee shot to the center of the green on the par-5 and put his approach shot on the green. He narrowly missed an eagle putt and ended with a birdie after an easy tap-in.

"It was the perfect hole," he said.

Class 3A West Aurora regional: Batavia finished second in the West Aurora regional at Orchard Valley in Aurora with a 322, three shots behind regional-champion Metea Valley.

Seniors Cam Marbach and Robert Carr led the Bulldogs with 78s. Senior Drew Holl fired an 80, while seniors Rocco Carbonara and Sam Glore each shot 86.

Marbach lauded the efforts of Hull in helping Batavia advance to Monday's sectional at Blackberry Oaks in Bristol (hosted by Oswego).

"Our No. 4 guy (Justin Schutt) was down with an injury and it was next man up," he explained. "Drew stepped up and shot an 80, which really put us above other teams. Without that key score today it would have been hard to advance."

Marbach birdied the 10th and 18th holes to finish strong on the back at Orchard Valley. "I started out pretty poorly with five bogeys on the front," he said. "I strung together a pretty good back 9. I had much better approach shots and my driver was working well and I got putts to fall at the end of the round."

Sophomore Ryan Vanderway (82) and senior Joel Pryer (85) will represent West Aurora at Monday's sectional after qualifying as individuals.

Class 2A Burlington Central regional: At Bowes Creek Country Club in Elgin, host Burlington Central took second and advanced to sectionals as a team. The Rockets carded a 340, five shots off the pace of champion Marian Central. The Rockets will compete in Monday's St. Viator sectional at Old Orchard.

Senior Joe Sherman led the way for the Rockets with a 79. Central also counted an 84 from senior Jordan Souvigny, an 87 from junior Anthony DiBartolo and a 90 from senior Zach Power.

"We were a little disappointed in our overall team score, but we wanted to move on as a team and that's what we did," said Sherman. "It's not the score we wanted to put up, but come Monday we will be ready for the sectional. We are going to be a little bit of a dark horse with that score."

Sherman said his focus was on helping the Rockets get to the next level as a group. "I wanted to put up the best number I could and that fueled me to fight through even though I wasn't playing my best," he said.

As a freshman, Sherman was part of a Central team that qualified for state. He's gone to state as an individual the last 2 years.

"I'm definitely looking for the clean sweep, but more importantly I'm hoping we can get another team down. It's much more enjoyable that way," he said.

St. Edward finished seventh with a 407, but senior Steve Poremba qualified for Old Orchard play as an individual with an 83.

Class 1A Oregon regional: Aurora Christian snared the third and final team-qualifying spot at the Oregon regional held at Silver Ridge in Oregon. Aurora Christian and all other Oregon qualifiers compete Monday in the Westminster Christian sectional at Randall Oaks in West Dundee.

The Eagles shot 337 in a close race for the team trophy. They finished 1 stroke behind runner-up Rockford Christian and only 2 strokes shy of champion Byron.

Senior Devin Johnson won the individual regional title with a 76. Senior Brett Seward shot 80, while senior Matt Buhrt logged a 90 and sophomore Ricky Hochsprung entered the clubhouse with a 91.

Harvest Christian Academy junior Joey Pepper advanced to sectionals as an individual after shooting an 85. The Lions finished seventh as a team with a 376.

Elgin Academy finished 10th with a 395. Coach Rick Schneider was impressed with the play of sophomore Jack Peak, who led the Hilltoppers with a 90, one shot shy of a sectional-qualifying berth. "Jack has come from being our fourth, fifth or sixth guy to being our lowest score," he said. "I'm looking forward to having him a couple more years."

KJ Kane was Westminster Christian's low scorer.