Vitale goes out with ESCC title as Lions roar
In his first three years at St. Viator, Matt Vitale played a supporting role to help the Lions wins the East Suburban Catholic Conference Championship.
He was the main man Thursday at the par-72 Pine Meadow Golf Club.
In his last conference tournament, Vitale's even-par round earned him medalist honors by 1 stroke. As a team, the Lions won and tied a school record (292) first established at the 2006 regional tournament.
Carmel and Benet Academy both had scores of 307. Since Carmel's fifth score was lower, the Corsairs won the tiebreaker and placed second. Nazareth Academy was fourth (316).
"I don't know of any other area athlete who was part of four conference championships at the varsity level," St. Viator coach Jack Halpin said. "And on top of that, he won (the tournament). I'm thrilled for him."
Teammates Brad Klune and Joe Carlson each had 73s, as did Benet Academy's John Callahan. The 'highest' score St. Viator posted was Dan Stringfellow's 75.
"If I'm going to take second, I want it to be to a teammate," Klune said.
Vitale had struggled a bit early in the season, but he began to play like his old self at the Wheeling Invitational (71). He was at the top of his game Thursday on a raw morning and early afternoon where the wind was a consistent factor.
"You had to (shape) your shots in the wind because once the wind got it, it was (gone)," he said.
Vitale seemed to drain every putt he looked at.
His highlights on the greens included birdie putts of 30 feet and a 10-footer that he estimated had 8 feet of break.
"I made some putts I wasn't even thinking about making," he said.
Vitale was aware of his score but he stayed focused throughout his round.
"I knew where I was all day and I told myself to relax," he said.
Klune hit the ball well throughout his round, and he could have shot even lower if his putter had cooperated. Klune's score was keyed by an eagle at the par-5, 15th.
"It was a (tough) downhill slider," he said.
Carmel junior Jack Watson and teammate Billy White each had 75. Watson played the front nine in 35 before closing with a 40.
Watson showed his deft touch around the green at the 16th hole. After flying the green and taking a penalty stroke, he chipped a 7-iron into the side of the hill, the ball popped up and stopped near tap-in distance.
"I was just trying to get it close," he said.
Although White was erratic off the tee at times, he made up for it by making all kinds of putts, including a 60-foot birdie putt at No. 2.
"I thought I hit it too hard, but it hit the back of the cup and went in," he said.
Carmel did not have to count a score in the 80s. The Corsairs' Mitch Meyer and Alex Pabich came through with 78 and 79, respectively.
Callahan (73) and Mike Henning (74) led the way for Benet Academy. Don Maag had a 78 and Nick Bonfitto fired an 82.
"I played really well, but I had a three-putt bogey at No. 14 that killed some momentum," Callahan said.
Kenning's entire game was set up by his accuracy off the tee.
"I hit pretty much every fairway," he said.
Central Suburban North meet: Maine West enjoyed its best finish in 14 years under coach Mike Godlewski as the Warriors (314) took third place behind Highland Park (314) and Deerfield (329) at the Glencoe Golf Course.
Top players for the Warriors were fifth-place finisher Pat Cullen (fifth) with an 81 and James Ramirez, who tied for tenth with an 84.
Evan Haase and Mike Villardita each contributed 84s for Maine West, which was also third in the overall conference standings. The Warriors will play at the Elk Grove regional Tuesday.
Girls golf
East Suburban Catholic Conference meet: St. Viator took top honors with a 346 as the Lions' Kaela Klune earned medalist honors with an 80 at Old Orchard in Mount Prospect.
The Lions' other top finishers were Abby Dickey (88) and teammate Hallie Dunn (88), third and fourth respectively, and Hailey Haworth (90) who was sixth. Teammate Betsy Cashman's 96 was good for 13th place.