Boys golf: St. Francis wins 20-team Geneva golf invitational

Luke Armbrust was more than a known commodity for the St. Francis boys golf team as the reigning Class 2A state champion.

But the Illinois-bound senior has able company in the Spartans' camp - from his own family.

Nick Armbrust fired a 2-over 73 at Mill Creek Golf Club in Geneva on Thursday afternoon to augment the fourth-place 72 his older sibling fired to guide St. Francis' winning total of 297 at the 20-team Geneva Invitational.

Marmion, elevated to Class 3A this fall after placing runner-up in 2A last fall, was second with a 306.

Waubonsie Valley was third with a 307, followed in close pursuit from Kaneland (309), which denied defending champion and two-time reigning state qualifier Geneva by a stroke.

DeKalb (311), Bartlett (312) and St. Charles East (316) rounded out the top eight.

South Elgin was considerably behind the Saints at 340.

Geneva junior Tyler Isenhart, fresh off an appearance at the US national amateur tournament, was medalist as his half-dozen birdies more than offset his trio of bogeys for a 3-under 68.

Isenhart denied Will Marshall, the defending tournament champion, who captured a scorecard playoff with Waubonsie Valley sophomore Will Troy, for runner-up after each player turned in level-par 71s.

The Armbrust brothers were fourth and fifth, respectively.

"I felt like I grinded it out today," Luke Armbrust said. "I didn't hit it my best. It's nice that our team, this year, has at least five scorers. We didn't even have to take a 78 (from Ben Bougadis) today."

Ryan Keefe also had a 75 for St. Francis.

"When I was in a tough spot, I made a putt," Nick Armbrust said. "It helped me get through."

Troy used solid ball-striking and an equally consistent short game to lead Waubonsie Valley.

"I hit a lot of good shots off the tee and put it close," Troy said. "I got up and down a lot on the front nine."

The Warriors had five scores 80 or better as Cade Kenyon, Jacob Fritz and Jack Genzer also contributed.

"It shows how much depth we have from start to finish," Waubonsie Valley coach Eric Flodberg said.

Glenbard South was in the middle of the pack with a 352.

Isenhart entered the tournament with his customary confidence.

"I shot 31 here (Tuesday against Streamwood in an Upstate Eight Conference River dual)," said Isenhart, who tied for third in Class 3A last year.

The Vikings' three-year stalwart was the lone player in the 60s to thwart the second consecutive individual title playing companion Marshall was seeking.

Isenhart poured in a trio of birdies on each nine.

"I made a lot of putts from inside eight feet for birdie," Isenhart said. "I played solid today. I was hitting my wedge shots close. My ball-striking was solid."

But the Vikings' attempt to dominate the tournament for a second straight year came to naught as Jack McDonald (79), a fellow junior and returning state member, was the only other Geneva player to break 80.

"The boys right now are little less experienced (than a year ago)," Geneva coach Eric Hatczel said.

Marshall could not have played a more circuitous round of golf at the par-71 layout.

The Kaneland junior drove his opening green and converted the eagle putt.

"It was playing about 325 (yards)," Marshall said.

Marshall would add back-to-back birdies to close out his nine, but a quadruple bogey on the fifth left him level 35 at the turn.

"Two balls out (of bounds)," Marshall said of the fateful fifth. "I was really pleased with how I composed myself on the course."

The Knights' Ryan Milton barely missed top-10 status with his 76.

The three Marmion state veterans - Peter Thayer, Jimmy Morton and Austen Velazquez - carried the team to second place.

The trio was a shot apart of each other after Thayer led the way with a 74.

Morton was at 75, and Velazquez carded a 76.

Thayer also had an adventurous day.

"I lost 4 golf balls," Thayer said. "My round could have been better on the scorecard. There were ups and downs. (As a team) we could have definitely made a better run of it."

"I lost two balls my first two holes," said Morton, who has led the Cadets all year. "I couldn't make a putt all day. It was kind of a struggle. I just couldn't make birdie."

Justin Everson and Nate Gorniak had the leaders for Bartlett rounds of 74 and 75.

Everson was ninth when the scorecard playoff was tallied.

Mason Meadows' 76 was the best score for St. Charles East.

"We're in the middle of the pack right now," St. Charles East coach John Stock said of the perennial power.