Colbert, Trojans nab second at D-C
Glenbard West's Shane Bryant didn't play his best golf on Saturday.
As a team, Glenbard West did.
Bryant, who had shot a 68 two years ago at the Dundee-Crown Charger Classic, finished with a 73 and the Hilltoppers shot a course-record 299 in order to take top honors, holding off Cary-Grove (300) and Benet (301). Crystal Lake South (306) and Crystal Lake Central (307) rounded out the top 5 teams at the 34th annual invite held at Randall Oaks in West Dundee.
"We played well here in the past," Glenbard West coach Paul Hezlett said. "It was a good day for us."
The Hilltoppers rode a 1-stroke victory over Hinsdale Central on Wednesday into Saturday's invite. Bryant (73) finished ninth, Jake Toliver (72) finished fifth and Jeff Davis (74) 10th for Glenbard West.
"I struck the ball very well and finished with my putting," Bryant said. "I missed a couple of birdie putts that I would have liked to make."
Cary-Grove's Brian Colbert (70) finished second after Crystal Lake Central's Matt Calder parred No. 10 in a playoff to determine the individual champion. Colbert, Calder and Woodstock's Calbe Remmington each finished with a round of 70.
Colbert was 1-under up until his 17th hole (No. 1). There, Colbert hit the ball over the green and finished at par.
However, Colbert was more than pleased with both his and his team's efforts on Saturday.
"I was hitting it a little better than I had been the past few days," Colbert said. "I played in this tournament all four years with limited success. Last year we were in the middle of the pack."
Ryan Kwech (73) finished sixth while Matt Efflandt (79) and Tyler Bulterman (78) each shot well for the Trojans. Colbert also liked the added feeling of intensity Saturday's invite gave his team, which he hopes will carry on as the season winds down.
"This is a little of the pressure you feel in regionals, sectionals and conference," Colbert said.
Crystal Lake South's Anthony Raucci (72) finished fourth, St. Edward's Brad Winters (73) seventh and Bartlett's Nick Quagliano (73) was in eighth place, but there was one notable omission from the top 10 finishers -- defending champion Michael Sainz from Larkin.
"I couldn't make enough putts," said Sainz, who finished with a 74. "Two-putting wasn't going to make it."
Quagliano's 73 paced Bartlett (313) to a seventh-place finish, Jacobs (319) was eighth, Larkin (322) ninth and Hoffman Estates (322) 10th.
Of the top 10 teams, none was more consistent than Benet. All five of the Redwings' golfers finished with scores in the 70s. Don Maag (74) led the team, with John Callahan and Kris Chin (75) finishing strong and Mike Kenning (77) rounding out the scoring.
Even though the tournament counts just the top 4 finishers, Benet coach Dan Nagis liked the depth his squad showed from all five scores, with Adam Kirkenmeier's score not adding to the team score (78).
"It shows great consistency," Nagis said. "We shot well in the past, but we haven't been this consistent. Kris Chin had his best round of the year."