Biddle leads Wheaton Academy to Suburban Christian crown
The inaugural Suburban Christian Conference boys golf season had an unusual twist this fall.
It was winner take all at the league championship Tuesday at Blackberry Oaks Golf Course in Bristol.
The schools' athletic directors decided the programs' head-to-head dual meets during the regular season would have no bearing on determining the conference champion.
"(The coaches) think the conference championship should represent a body of work," said Wheaton Academy coach Bob Broman. "We want the conference champion to be more than a tournament champion."
There was, however, once again no stopping UNLV-bound Wheaton Academy star Blake Biddle.
The senior from St. Charles broke par in an 18-hole tournament for the fourth time this season, finishing his day at 1-under 71 to turn back St. Francis' Mike Melka by 2 shots in claiming the league MVP.
The Warriors' quest for the first boys state championship in school history continued apace as the other five players in the starting lineup - defending Class 2A state titlist David Flynn, Jeff Berg, Elio Vento, CJ Urbanski and Lars Olson - earned all-conference accolades with their collective 306 total.
Marmion, with four players breaking 80, headed by matching 78s from Tim Johnson and Zach Woytych, was second at 311. St. Francis was third at 315, five better than Marian Central Catholic.
Aurora Christian (331), Montini (340), Immaculate Conception (347), St. Edward (349), Aurora Central Catholic (350), Chicago Christian (357) and Guerin (386) rounded out the 11-team field.
"I think, considering the conditions, we played pretty well," said Broman, whose team has won four league titles in the last five years. "(Biddle) strung a bunch of pars together. He was not pleased with his putting. I can't ever remember getting all six of my guys all-conference before."
Immaculate Conception state returnee Tommy Hart was 4-over par to finish third with a 76.
Montini junior Eric Lederman, also a returning state veteran, led the Broncos with his 77.
Four shots separated an equal number of Aurora Christian contributing scores as Bryce Renninger led the Eagles with an 81.
Michael Holevas' 79 paced St. Edward, and Ryan Harreld was the low man for Aurora Central with an 82.
The Chargers host a Class 2A regional next week at Phillips Park in a state preliminary featuring several conference schools.
"We are very deep," said St. Francis coach Pat Murphy. "I never know where our four scores are going to come from. Potentially they can play much better. I'm very excited about this team."