Marmion's Emory ties invite record
The Fox Valley Golf Club was defenseless against the loaded field Saturday afternoon at the Batavia Invitational.
It was a closer approximation to a darts competition than a boys golf tournament.
In capturing the title of the 28-team field for a third consecutive year, Hinsdale Central was in a league of its own.
Brett Tomfohrde and Sean Marquardt sizzled with 4-under-par 68s, and Dylan Lee had a front-nine 31 to frame the Devils' 279, collectively 9-under for a squad which broke the tournament record previously held by St. Charles East (281) in 2004.
Bryce Emory came within a whisker of establishing a new individual bench mark at the storied tournament.
The Marmion senior and three-time reigning Aurora city champion had birdies on half of his opening 10 holes and eagled the par-5 17th with a massive 195-yard, 8-iron second shot to within a foot of the cup in edging Lyons' Kevin Workman for top honors with a 66.
The 6-under-par performance equaled the tournament record of former Kaneland standout Milo French from five years ago.
"It could have been a 63 or 64," said Emory. "The greens were really soft (from the drenching rains on Thursday), and I just birdied all the holes that you can out here. My putting wasn't all that great."
Nick Lappin had a 73 for the Cadets, who were also bolstered by Tim Johnson (78) and a pair of 81s from Taylor Kanute and David Brouch.
"(Emory) is coming into his own," Marmion coach Jen Konen said. "It was just a great
round for him. Sixty-six is great, but it could have been a 60."
On a day when its place was erased from the history books, St. Charles East still had reason for optimism.
With five players breaking 80, headlined by a trio of 76s from Wes Apple and twins Brad and Brett Weiss, the Saints were seventh at 306.
"I wanted to finish around par, but I blew up at the end," said Brad Weiss.
Jordan Wetsch concluded the Saints' team card with a 78.
"Two (hundred) seventy-nine is 279," St. Charles East coach John Stock said when realizing his team record was no more. "What can you say?"
"It's great to have a team like (Hinsdale Central in the field), a perennial state power," said host coach Tim DeBruycker.
The Bulldogs' Shawn Steurer had an inward-nine 35 to frame a 73 that led Batavia to a ninth-place finish.
Tim Schofield and Ian Sohst also were level on their back nines to anchor the Bulldogs' 308 total.
Nathan Clark, Brett Golabek and Pat Corrigan were a shot apart between 78 and 80, respectively, to solidify the 319 of St. Charles North.
Nick Lavery (78) and Mark Torres (80) led an admittedly disappointed team result for West Aurora, which placed one spot in front of Kaneland.
Curtis Lubic had the low round for the Knights with an 82.
As for the team finish, West Suburban Silver cohorts Lyons Township also had a pair of players in the 60s, only to be relegated to second place with an equally impressive 285 behind Hinsdale Central.
"I totally feel we're a stronger team than a year ago," said Tomfohrde, who had an eagle and five birdies on his card.
Benet junior John Callahan was one of nine players to break par; a double-bogey on the par-5 sixth hole was his only blemish in his round of 70.
"I would have had all 3s and 4s on my card except for that hole," said Callahan. "I just had one bad hole."
Benet edged Marmion 297-298 for third place; Pat Callahan had a 75 for the Redwings, and Mike Kenning and Adam Kirkenmeier were at 76.
Wheaton Warrenville South and Glenbard West continued the onslaught of scores in the 70s in their battle for fifth place.
The Tigers, who received a level-par 72 from Steve Skurla - which was not even good enough for top-10 individual status - secured the spot with their fifth card.
Skurla played a 12-hole stretch in 6-under to overcome a double-bogey start.
Adam Callaway and brothers Jay and Shawn Plepel all fired 77s to frame the WW South effort.
"We had very good teamwork today," WW South coach Jimmy Selleck said. "We want to be better. My guys were mad about the way they played. We're not satisfied by any means.
Eric Bookford, Mike Saletta, Mitch Bley and Kyle Kochevar were all between 75 and 77 to lead Glenbard West.
"This was the first time I've brought any of these kids here," Glenbard West coach Paul Hezlett said. "I'm happy with the way they played."
Naperville North junior Ben Nelson was eighth overall with his 1-under round of 71; the team had four sub-80 rounds to place eighth.
"I'm happy with eighth," Nelson said. "That's insane that even par didn't even get you in the top 10."
The sentiment was shared.
"This Hinsdale Central team might be one of the greatest teams in Illinois high school history," Selleck said.
Josh Stefan ski (77), Matt Ward (78), Greg Zernitz (78) and Jack Lowry (75) were the respective leaders of Waubonsie Valley, Wheaton North, Lake Park and Downers Grove North.
Eric Lederman (75), Preetesh Patel (76) and Mitch McNeily (82) anchored Montini, Fenton and Glenbard South, respectively.