Larkin hoping to keep roll going at sectional

One of the area's most successful boys golf programs has returned to familiar territory.

Larkin, under the direction of veteran coach Tim Jones, will make its first appearance at the sectional level since 2001 at Monday's Class 3A Naperville Central sectional at Naperbrook Golf Course.

The Royals, who routinely went deep into the golf postseason in the 1990s with names like Harry Channon, Jon Duppler, Alex Hoffer and Carlos Sainz to name a few, qualified after shooting a 315 at the regional level. Larkin last went Downstate in boys golf in 1999 (taking eighth in Class AA).

"We've got a nice blend of guys here," said Jones. "We've got two sophomores playing very well and a junior in Luc Geier that has really turned it around. Those guys are complementing Michael (Sainz) real well."

Sainz, the Upstate Eight Conference runner-up, fired a 77 at regionals to lead the way. Geier and sophomore Ryan Smith both had 79s, while sophomore Scott Harm had an 80.

"I'm definitely excited," said Sainz. "It's a lot different feeling being able to go as a team. I think we'll be a lot more comfortable playing as a team. And this is great for the young guys to be able to experience this."

Sainz said the team has been able to churn out four quality scores with more frequency as the season has worn on.

"We're getting a lot more consistent out there," said Sainz. "We've got guys that can put up 70s."

Geier is one of those individuals who have turned things up a notch of late.

"I've been playing the best rounds of my life in these tournaments," said Geier.

The Royals know the stakes have been raised even higher now with only two teams qualifying for state out of each sectional. Also at Naperbrook will be the likes of Benet Academy (302 regional score), Hinsdale Central (305), Batavia (310), Bartlett (310), St. Charles East (315), Downers Grove South (323) and Hinsdale South (330).

"We can't let up," said Sainz. "We all have to shoot good scores. If we shoot well and try our hardest and put up good rounds and we don't make it, that's OK. We're putting up good rounds here when it matters. We'll be ready for it."

Bartlett won its second regional title in 3 years last week thanks to seniors Nick Quagliano and Ryan Oberg, junior Trace Pomplun and sophomore Anthony Burdi all shooting in the 70s. Quagliano led the way with a 76.

"This is going to be one of the better sectionals around," said Quagliano. "A lot of the better teams in this region are going to be there. We know these teams are going to be good. But we seem pretty relaxed as a team. We know we have the game and we know we are capable of shooting well. We have to make sure we play our own game and not get caught up in other scores. If we stay relaxed, playing the game is a lot easier. This is one of the more consistent groups I've seen. In every tournament we've always got a couple of guys in the top 10 and that's really helped us all year."

South Elgin sophomore Andrew Buddle will also be part of the sectional field at Naperbrook. The top 8 individuals not on qualifying teams advance to the state meet as well.

The majority of the area's other Class 3A competitors will be at Oak Grove Golf Course in Harvard for the McHenry sectional.

Cary-Grove qualified for the sectional as a team after shooting a 311 at the regional level. The Trojans will be joined by Lake Forest (293), Mundelein (298), Highland Park (302), Barrington (307), Woodstock (312), McHenry (315), Harlem (317), DeKalb (318).

Cary-Grove's Brian Colbert, who won the Fox Valley Conference title last week, followed that up by winning the Prairie Ridge individual regional title with a 71.

Jacobs qualified junior Mike Kneip and sophomore Josh Kopka. Both will be looking for state berths as one of the top 8 individuals not on qualifying teams.

Both Golden Eagle golfers agree they will have to be on top of their games considering the course they are playing.

"We played it in conference and I played a practice round," said Kopka. "I know the course. You have to have good course management. It's a very narrow course."

"You have to keep the ball in play there," said Kneip. "You can't go for anything to major. You have to play that course smart and try to make as many pars as possible."

Kopka is coming off a regional performance where he carded 5 birdies.

"You couldn't ask for a better time to start playing well," said Kopka.

Kneip is making his third straight sectional appearance. He was part of a Jacobs sectional qualifying team as a freshman and played as an individual last year.

"Having the experience means a lot," said Kneip. "I know what kind of scores there are at this level and I know what to expect."

Also playing as individuals at Oak Grove are Prairie Ridge's Tyler Benson, Kyle Sherman and Ben Boncosky, along with Crystal Lake South's Anthony Raucci and Sean Reinsalu and Dundee-Crown's Jordan Nelson.

Streamwood's Garrett Eddy will compete in the Class 3A Hersey sectional at Old Orchard Country Club in Mount Prospect.

St. Edward qualified as a team for Monday's Class 2A Wheaton Academy sectional at Pheasant Run in St. Charles.

The Green Wave, who shot a 334 in regional play, will be in a sectional field with Wheaton Academy (300), Crystal Lake Central (308), Marengo (316), Marian Central (323), St. Francis (323), Lakes (331), Timothy Christian (343) and Glenbard South (343).

"This means a lot," said St. Edward senior Brad Winters. "Our entire goal at the beginning of the season was to get the entire team to the state meet. We got the whole team to sectionals and now there's one more step to get to that goal. Now there's only 2 teams going to state and there will be a lot of good teams there. We are going to have to be ready to play if we want to get out of sectionals."

Winters shot a 70 at the regional (1 shot off the medalist). Brett Manning added a 79 and Winters' freshman brother, Eric, shot an 85.

Burlington Central's Sam Schmalz (senior) and Peter Cappas (junior) will also be part of the field at Pheasant Run. Schmalz shot a 78 at the regional level.

On the girls side, St. Edward is in the sectional round for a second year in a row. The Green Wave, who qualified for the Class A state finals last year, and Hampshire are part of the Class A Byron sectional at Prairie View on Tuesday.

St. Edward shot a 438 at the regional level, while Hampshire shot 444 to advance. They will be joined by El Paso (395), Westmont (400), Byron (410), Princeton (422), Lena-Winslow (429), Stillman Valley (448) and Indian Creek (481).

Hampshire freshman Taylor Ellett fired an 88 at the regional level. The only other competitors at Byron to shoot lower than Ellett at the regional level were Driscoll standout GiGi DiGrazia (72), Freeport Aquin's Alexa Fontana (81) and Westmont's Ashley Wilkinson (87). El Paso's Jessica Knepp also shot 88.

On the Class AA individual level, Dundee-Crown senior Beth Nowicke and South Elgin sophomore Carly Schneider are part of the Class AA St. Ignatius sectional at Cog Hill #1 in Lemont Tuesday. Nowicke shot an 83 to advance out of the regional.

Burlington Central's Taylor Colby and Erica Maisto will play in the Class AA Moline sectional at Oakwood Country Club in Coal Valley on Monday, while Prairie Ridge's Allison Holly and Huntley's Katlyn Anderberg will play in the Class AA Rockford Guilford sectional at Ingersoll on Monday.