Regional title streak ends, but Broncos move on

There was some disappointment as Barrington's boys golf team saw a three-year streak of regional titles end by a mere shot Tuesday.

The emotions were tempered because bigger goals are still within reach for the Broncos after they scored 299 to finish a shot behind first-time regional champion Jacobs in the Prairie Ridge Class 3A tournament at Prairie Isle Golf Club in Crystal Lake.

"The good news is we didn't have to worry where the team didn't make it," said Barrington senior Ross Frankenberg, who wasn't part of a regional champion for the first time in his varsity career. "Overall it's a little upsetting not winning it.

"But I still think we've got a good chance to make it to state and make some noise."

Frankenberg and senior Travis Smyczynski shot 73s to lead the Broncos. Jason Batliner shot 76 and sophomore Marc Ackermann a 77 on the par-72, 6,601-yard course to advance to next Monday's sectional at their home Makray Memorial course.

Scott Cahill (71) and Donnie Langland (73) led Jacobs. Crystal Lake South freshman Nick Robles earned medalist honors with a 68 and McHenry shot 304 to take the third and final team sectional qualifying spot.

"You always want to win," Smyczynski said. "But we advanced to the sectional and hopefully we'll get down to state. That's all we really want."

Smyczynski hopes playing at Makray will give the Broncos a bit of an advantage.

"Makray is still a tough course," he said. "Whoever is on their 'A' game that day is going to come out on top."

Frankenberg said he was hurt by a couple of mental mistakes on the greens and "didn't really have my 'A' game today." Smyczynski said he started slowly "but caught a little fire on the back 9 and hit a few birdies."

Barrington will take its chances next week - with only two teams advancing to state from the sectional - if all six players score in the 70s. Nick Schiavi shot 78 and James Ross shot 79 on Tuesday.

"Hopefully we'll get four good scores at Makray and see how far it takes us," Frankenberg said. "It would be nice to have the (regional) trophy, but there's one trophy we're looking for and it's not really this one."

Glenbrook North regional: Bryan Senn's 75 led Prospect to second place at Sportsman's Country Club and a spot in next Monday's Glenbrook South sectional.

Tyler Beyak (77), Jimi Poulos (78) and Matt Maloney (78) led the Knights to 308. New Trier won the title with 296 on the par-70, 6,278-yard course.

Wheeling senior Randy Glover shot 77 to qualify for the sectional.

Elk Grove regional: Konrad Deka earned medalist honors with a 2-over 72 as Leyden finished third at Fox Run Golf Links and qualified for the Glenbrook South sectional.

T.J. Rose (77), Karl Kowall (86) and Kurtis Dower and Mike Rose (87) helped the Eagles match Maine South's 322. Lake Park won the tourney with 319.

Also qualifying for the sectional were Maine West's Ryan O'Connell (77), Kyle Hecker (81) and Pat Cullen (82) and Elk Grove's Eric Jones (77) and Mitch Carpenter (80).