DuPage-area prep golf outlook

Top area teams: Hinsdale Central, Wheaton Academy, Wheaton Warrenville South, Neuqua Valley, Waubonsie Valley, Benet, Glenbard West, Naperville Central.

Top athletes: Blake Biddle, jr., Wheaton Academy; David Flynn, jr., Wheaton Academy; Stephen Powers, jr., Neuqua Valley; Matt Nied, sr., Waubonsie Valley; John Callahan, jr., Benet; Brett Tomfohrde, sr., Hinsdale Central; Theo Lederhausen, jr., Hinsdale Central; Chris Meyer, jr., Hinsdale Central; Sean Marquardt, jr., Hinsdale Central; Mike Segneri, sr., St. Francis; Jeff Berg, jr., Wheaton Academy; Ryan Crawford, sr., West Chicago; Keegan O'Rahilly, jr., St. Francis; Matt Massa, jr., St. Francis; Mitch McNeily, jr., Glenbard South; Tony Scotellaro, sr., Glenbard South; Greg Ziernitz, sr., Lake Park; Tom Huiner, sr., Timothy Christian; Pretesh Patel, jr., Fenton; Andy Wethekam, sr., York; Mike Walser, jr., Downers Grove North; Eric Ogasawara, sr., Downers Grove South; Nick Brand, sr., Hinsdale South; Steve Skurla, sr., Wheaton Warrenville South; Mike Rozum, sr., Hinsdale South; Shawn Plepal, sr., Wheaton Warrenville South; Thomas O'Bryan, sr., Waubonsie Valley; Matt Pell, sr., Neuqua Valley; Ben Nelson, sr., Naperville North; Mike Kenning, sr., Benet; Josh Stefanski, so., Waubonsie Valley; Ryan Whittingham, sr., Naperville Central.

Newcomer to remember: Kyle Kochevar, fr., Glenbard West.

Scouting report: Hinsdale Central and Wheaton Academy made the biggest splash at the state tournament last year; the Red Devils were third in the inaugural Class 3A tournament, and Wheaton Academy made a second-day run to snare fifth in the middle class. The two schools figure to be right back in the thick of things come October. Hinsdale Central is a legitimate state title contender with five of its six starters returning from last season. Tomfohrde and Lederhausen anchored the team to red-number team performances last year.

"We have a lot of work to do between now and October," Hinsdale Central coach Jess Krueger said. "We have some pretty high hopes."

Biddle and Flynn, meanwhile, are arguably the most potent 1-2 junior punch in the state. Biddle shared the lead after one round of the Illinois Open last summer, and Flynn was seventh in state as a sophomore.

"If his putter his hot, look out," Wheaton Academy coach Bob Broman said of Biddle. The Warriors will seek to dethrone downstate juggernaut Normal U-High, which has won four consecutive state titles ­in three separate classes.

"They're the heavy favorites," Broman said.

The conference races figure to be as competitive as ever. In the DuPage Valley Conference, Wheaton Warrenville South has staked an early claim to unseating West Aurora. The Tigers won the season-opening Larkin Invitational behind Skurla, who fired a tournament-low 70, and Plepel.

"Steve is focused and ready to begin the year," said WW South coach Jimmy Selleck. "It will be a pretty typical year in the DVC - very competitive."

Naperville Central was runner-up at its tournament to start the year, and Naperville North is always in the mix. West Chicago is primed for another strong year; the Wildcats barely missed qualifying as a team to the sectional last fall, and Crawford headlines a strong senior class. West Chicago coach Eric Lasky said the Wildcats' chances for a breakthrough in the league are further bolstered by hosting the conference tournament. In the Upstate Eight, Neuqua Valley won the league with a strong performance at the conference tournament. But Waubonsie Valley advanced out of the brutally stacked field at Geneva to advance in the state tournament. Both teams return a strong nucleus. Powers was the Class 3A Naperville Central sectional champion, and the Wildcats have four other returning starters. "I think we'll be in good shape (for conference)," said Neuqua Valley coach Spike Grosshuesch. Nied, O'Bryan and Stefanski constitute the heart and soul of Waubonsie Valley golf, but the Warriors' hopes for a return trip to the team sectional rests with a consistent fourth scorer. "I expect them (the three returning players) to be pretty consistent," Waubonsie Valley coach Dave Owles said. "I have no idea who our fourth score is going to be."

Lake Park had three players break 80 at Larkin, headed by Ziernitz. "I think you are probably going to be looking at Neuqua Valley and St. Charles East to be at the top in the league," Lake Park coach Dan Batka said. Tom Murphy and Max Gordon are the Lancers' other top guns.

The two West Suburban divisions have familiar storylines as the season commences. Glenbard West suffered heavy graduation losses, but the Hilltoppers' chances to compete with Hinsdale Central and Lyons Twp. were bolstered with the arrival of Kochevar. The freshman was in red earlier this week at Woodstock to win a loaded tournament.

"Maybe we'll put a little pressure on (Hinsdale Central), we'll see," said Glenbard West coach Paul Hezlett. "Anyone can beat anyone on their home course in our league."

"(Hinsdale Central) is definitely the favorites," said York coach Jim Borel. "Andy (Wethekam) has worked hard on his game, and it's great to him progress. He's one of the best players in the state. As usual, the West Suburban Silver is a very competitive conference. We're definitely going to battle."

In the Gold, Hinsdale South has three returning sectional qualifiers at the vanguard of its attempt to unseat five-time defending champion Downers Grove South. "Most of the time it's them or us," Downers South coach Jay Baum said. "I feel good about my guys." Brand and Rozum are the leaders for Hinsdale South.

"They're in a different league than us," Addison Trail coach Tom Hubner said of the two conference powers. Addison Trail will attempt to make inroads behind seniors John Rigitano, Eddie Chisholm and Brian Norton.

Marmion has dominated the Suburban Catholic Conference the last two years, but St. Francis returns Segneri - a Class 2A state qualifier - as well as O'Rahilly and Massa. "There are five or six guys behind them (the three returnees) who on any given day can throw in a low score," said St. Francis coach Pat Murphy. "I think our depth is better than average."

Eric Lederman is the leader at Montini, and the amazing Gigi DiGrazia, state runner-up in the girls Class A tournament last fall, is the most consistent player at Driscoll regardless of gender.

Benet has the unenviable task of derailing defending state champion St. Viator in the East Suburban Catholic, but the Redwings were the class of the field at the Geneva regional last fall behind Callahan and Kenning. "We have five of the six kids back," Benet coach Dan Nagis said. "The good competition we play will propel us for the invites and state tournament."

Senior captain Jeff Seiffert leads a very youthful Lisle squad.

Key dates: Aug. 27, Geneva Invitational; Aug. 30, Fenton Invitational; Sept. 2, West Chicago Invitational; Sept. 6, Batavia Invitational; Sept. 20, Dundee-Crown Invitational; Sept. 22, Ivanhoe Tournament; Week of Sept. 30, Conference tournaments.

Predicted state champions: Class 1A, Champaign St. Thomas More; Class 2A, Normal U-High; Class 3A, Hinsdale Central.