Grayslake Central's Granquist sizzles

Dylan Granquist of Grayslake Central never expected a round like the one he played Monday afternoon at Shepherd's Crook Golf Course in Zion. Nor did Granquist ever expect being the medalist at the Lake County boys golf invitational.

Granquist shot a 3-over-par 74 on the par 71, 6,827 yard course to earn honors in the19-team competition. Playing in a shotgun format, Granquist started on the first hole, and went out with 34 and came in with 38. He opened with 7 straight pars and kept rolling from there - finishing with a birdie, 5 bogeys and the rest pars.

"It was probably the best round I've ever played," Granquist said. "I've never played (Shepherd's Crook) before. I wasn't thinking too much and was just playing. I had only 20 putts, and that was good too. Playing a course like Shepherd's Crook playing long and windy, I probably put this up there as the best I've played."

Matt Ackermann of Barrington finished third, shooting 76, a shot behind Deerfield runner-up Bennett Lavin (75).

"I did make a couple of birdies (15 and 18)," said Ackermann, who shot 37 and 39, respectively on each nine. "It was a little windy out there. I thought I struck the ball very good."

Other medalists included Mundelein's Eric Nelson (sixth with 77), Lakes' David Reidel (10th with 77), Grayslake North's Matt Bergstrom (11th with 78) and Sean Humphrey (12th with 78), Stevenson's Reed Aren (13th with 78), Mundelein's Grant Heelan (14th with 79) and Stevenson's Ryan Prince (15th with 79).

Lake Forest captured team honors for the third time in six years with a 309, 4 shots better than Highland Park (313) and 7 shots ahead of Deerfield (316).

"Brutal course with the wind and how they set it up," said Lake Forest coach Jim Matheson. "Great competition with low scores from a lot of different schools. It will be quite a shootout by the regional."