Boys golf: Geneva's Isenhart wins; Naperville Central advances to state

Prior to Tyler Isenhart's arrival two years ago, Geneva had a grand total of one team state appearance in the history of the boys golf program.

But Monday at Glendale Lakes at the Class 3A Glenbard East sectional, Isenhart served notice with a 3-under par front nine.

The Vikings' junior added a fifth birdie on his inward nine to finish with a 2-under 69 to defeat three other players by a stroke for medalist honors.

Naperville Central was in close pursuit of five-time defending state champion Hinsdale Central, but Isenhart will compete in Bloomington this weekend for a third consecutive season as a member of the Vikings' starting six.

The Isenhart gold-medal performance lifted Geneva, tied for sixth last year, to a fourth state finals berth.

"I was just thinking to go as low as I can," said Isenhart, tied for third last fall at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington. "My ball striking wasn't as good as the front. Winning as an individual was a goal of mine."

For the second straight season Neuqua Valley was the odd-man out. Geneva finished at 302 to defeat the Wildcats by a pair of shots for the third team berth to the state finals.

Hinsdale Central (297) nipped Naperville Central by 2 strokes to capture the championship.

Returning state veterans Jack McDonald and Nick Geen were instrumental for Geneva as the duo had a combined 152 with their respective rounds of 75 and 77.

"We started off a little slow," McDonald said. "I was 4-over after six holes, so I just battled out there. I kept going and shot a nice score."

St. Charles East was fifth with a 307 total. Connor King qualified for a second consecutive season with a sterling red-number 70. Mason Meadows' 72 for St. Charles East was also well inside the individual cut.

King admittedly struggled for many of his regular-season tournaments.

"I just couldn't get it going in the early part of the season," King said. "I knew I had to play well if I wanted to make it to state, which I did. That is my best round."

Meadows exorcised past pitfalls.

"It means a lot (to qualify)," Meadows said. "Of my three previous visits to the sectional, two of them have not been very pretty. I hit two balls in the water and had three 3-putts. I left some (shots) out there, but I can't complain with a 72."

Like King, Ryan Vanderway will return as an at-large qualifier. But the West Aurora junior had a much more strenuous path.

Pitted against three other players for the final berth, Vanderway birdied the par-5 first playoff hole to punch his ticket.

Vanderway had a 36 on his inward nine to finish with one of four 76s.

"It was 3 feet - and I still almost missed it," Vanderway said of his clinching putt. "People always say, 'The cut's going to be at this number.' I don't really go after a number."

Marmion (324) and Batavia (337) had their seasons end.

Tommy Dunsire has been a model of brilliant play the entire season for Naperville Central, especially in the closing weeks of the current campaign.

"Ever since I committed (to Northern Illinois University), it has been a nice weight off my shoulder," the DuPage Valley Conference individual champion said. "I think that has really brought my game to the next level."

Dunsire was also in the red with a 1-under 70 to anchor the Redhawks' first state-advancing team in 15 years. Ryan Onorati and Eric Estvander fired a 74 and 75 for Naperville Central.

"It makes the whole day even more special," Dunsire said of the Redhawks' runner-up finish. "I think we're all going to have a ball."

For Neuqua Valley, though, three scores of 74 or better could not propel the team downstate.

The Wildcats' Michael Rhee, Jack Vercautren and Colin Chromy had a stroke separate them between 72 and 74.

But Neuqua Valley could only manage a fourth-best round of 85.

"It's even worse (than last year), knowing we were so close," said Vercautren, who advanced as an at-large qualifier for a second straight season.

Lake Forest (2011) was the last team other than Hinsdale Central to hoist the state-championship trophy.

"Obviously, we want to keep it going," said Josh Lundmark, who led the Red Devils with a 70. "We want to give it a shot for six in a row."

Metea Valley regional champion Scott Boyjian had a 71 to earn his first state appearance.

"I knew if I shot well at Orchard (Valley, the Mustangs' home course and site of West Aurora regional last week), I would be able to shoot low here," Boyjian said. "I didn't make any big mistakes with my driver."