Spartans play Oak Brook like back of their hand

So often in the game of golf, familiarity can breed success.

For the St. Francis boys golf team, two recent rounds at Oak Brook Golf Course treated the Spartans to an added knowledge of the course, helping them to a 20-stroke victory in the Class AA Timothy Christian regional Tuesday afternoon.

"We actually played a match here on Thursday, so they got to see the golf course, and they played a practice round here (Monday)," Spartans coach Brian King said. "The kids all felt pretty good about the golf course."

St. Francis senior Ryan Archibald set the pace at the one-time Western Open host, shooting a 6-over-par 78.

Fellow Spartans Matt Massa, with an 80, and Mike Segneri, with an 81, joined Archibald at the top of the leader board, as St. Francis boasted the lowest three scores on the day.

"I think those scores were right about our averages," King said. "We didn't really play way below our average today, so those are scores the kids are all very capable of shooting."

Sharp focus around the green propelled Archibald to medalist honors.

"I was real happy. My short game was working real well for me," Archibald said. "I knew I was going to need to get up-and-down and have a good short game today in order for our team to succeed.

"I made a couple real good up-and-downs out of the bunkers when I had buried lies," he added. "Basically, that's where it was all at right there with the short game."

Glenbard South's Zack Polaski and Mitch McNeily each shot 83 to help the Raiders earn a second-place tie with Timothy Christian.

"We had a lot of respect for this golf course," Glenbard South coach Scott Iliff said. "It's a very nice test of golf.

"We had a goal that was a little lower than 343, but maybe we kind of dodged a bullet here … because of the difficulty of the course."

After health problems sidelined him for a majority of the season, Timothy Christian coach Tom Day felt blessed to watch his team advance to sectionals.

"I got out to see the guys for the first time last Wednesday, which was a kind of thrill," Day said. "I had an opening prayer with the guys this morning on the putting green, and I said 'I hope you guys believe in miracles, because you're looking at one.'"

Montini missed a trip to sectionals by a scant 3 strokes, finishing the day with a 346. Northridge Prep, Elmwood Park, Guerin, Walther Lutheran and Ridgewood rounded out the bottom half.