Boys golf: Stevenson's Bussell earns Class 3A state victory
Jackson Bussell became the first boys golf state champion in Stevenson history Saturday, leading the Patriots to a third-place finish in the Class 3A tournament at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington.
Bussell fired a 4-under-par 68 for a two-day total of 3-under 141, giving the junior a one-shot win over Neuqua Valley senior Jack Vercautren. Bussell's effort helped Stevenson (602) finish behind only state champ Hinsdale Central (593) and Lake Forest (595). Lake Forest's Michael Seaman also fired a final-round 68, moving him up to seventh overall with a two-day total of 2-over 146.
Stevenson's Stephanie Miller won the Class AA girls state championship in 2010 and 2012. Bussell did not qualify for state last year but was a member of the Stevenson squad that advanced to state in 2015.
Tied for seventh at 1-under 71 after Friday's opening round, Bussell shot 4 under on the back nine Saturday. He was even par on the front nine, carding birdies on the third and eighth holes and bogeys on the first and fifth. His back nine started with a birdie on No. 10. He then made back-to-back birdies on Nos. 13 and 14 and made another birdie on the 16th, before finishing with consecutive pars.
Stevenson also counted junior Mark Noonan's 74, freshman Conan Pan's 76 and senior Matthew Schawel's 77. Pan tied for 35th, while Noonan and Schawel finished in a tie for 46th. Senior Philippe Kim and junior Alexander Kim had an 82 and 83, respectively, for the Patriots.
Carmel junior Evan Myers finished eighth thanks to a final-round 72 (3-over 147 total), which included an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole. Lake Forest's Scott Frevert (148) tied for 12th.
Class 2A
At Weibring Golf Club on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal, Vernon Hills finished 10th with a two-day total of 649.
Senior Brian Favia closed out his four-year varsity career with a 5-over 77 and 155 total, putting him in a tie for 30th place. Vernon Hills, which was making its fourth trip to state in as many years, also got a 79 Saturday from Rohan Vasudeva. Joey Levitan (57th) shot an 80, and Brendan Wise and Sujay Voleti had matching 81s.
Grayslake Central senior Michael Sisk shot a 76 in his final round and tied for 12th (148). His teammate Tyler Hanson finished with an 81 (167, tied for 74th).
Charleston won the state championship with a 599. St. Viator and Normal University High tied for second with matching 608s.