St. Viator roars to top position

The St. Viator boys golf team is on the verge of a second straight state title after one round of play at the Class 3A state championship meet.

The Lions shot 291 at the Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington to take a 5-shot lead over Edwardsville going into the final day of play Saturday.

Junior Joe Carlson led Viator with a 3-under par 69, recording 4 birdies.

"I thought I chipped and putted pretty well today," said Carlson. "My short game was good."

Classmate Dan Stringfellow was second-best for Viator with 70 as the golfers played on an unusually perfect weather day for mid-October with bright skies and low wind.

"The way all these guys played today was unbelievable, especially on a (difficult) golf course like this," said St. Viator coach Jack Halpin. "If Joe and Danny had even shot par today, we'd be tied right now. That was the difference."

Barrington's Ross Frankenberg fired a 68, a round that included 6 birdies, to trail Quincy's Parker Freiburg by only 1 stroke in the race for individual medalist honors.

Carlson and Stringfellow remain in the hunt for the individual title, as does Hersey senior Johannes Seemann (72, eighth position.)

"I thought I played pretty well today," said Seemann. "We'll see what happens tomorrow.

Corey Koniecki of Rockford Boylan carded a 68 to tie with Frankenberg at 1 shot back.

In the team race Quincy, last years runner-up, closed to within a couple of shots of Viator midway through the back nine but struggled late and finished with a score of 299, 11 shots behind the Lions despite Freiburg's stellar 5-under par score.

Edwardsville was consistent with five golfers shooting 77 or better, led by Carson Baugher, who shot 71 despite taking a triple-bogey 8 on the par-5 fifth hole.

"That's a tough hole," said Carlson. "There's water on the left and on the right."

Hinsdale Central is in third place at 298, while Barrington struggled to end the day in seventh position.

Senior Matt Vitale (75), Junior Brad Klune (77) and sophomore Kenny Wienckowski all contributed for the Lions, who realize their work is not yet done despite the big one-day advantage.

"We can't get conservative," said Carlson. "We've got to stay aggressive and stick with what's been working for us, especially the last couple of weeks."