Northwest: Class 3A boys golf regionals
By Bill Esbrook
BEGIN_ATTRIBUTIONDaily Herald CorrespondentEND_ATTRIBUTION
Class 3A boys golf regionals
When: Tuesday
Outlook: It's going to be one of the most competitive meets in years when nine Mid-Suburban League teams as well as two-time defending state champion St. Viator tee off in the Fremd regional at Hilldale Golf Course in Hoffman Estates. St. Viator, led by a senior-laden group including Dan Stringfellow, will be favored but may be more vulnerable than in years past as evidenced by its loss to Carmel in the East Suburban Catholic Conference tournament. The Lions still have defending individual state champion Joe Carlson and stellar senior Brad Klune, but will have to contend with the likes of MSL champion Prospect, host Fremd (which will have the advantage of playing on their home course), and Hersey among others.
The Vikings will be tough as Sean Jones returned from injury to fire a 76 and win the MSL individual crown at Poplar Creek while Chris Ramirez, Jackson Tworek and Brad Beutler are all formidable. The Knights were undefeated in conference and had three golfers (Derek Leeney, Tyler Beyak and Jimi Poulos) break 80 in difficult conditions at Poplar Creek.
"Fremd, Viator and Prospect will be tough to beat," said Schaumburg coach Ken Biggs, who is retiring this season after 21 years coaching at Schaumburg and 32 years as a teacher in the district. " But I think at least we'll have several individuals advance."
Scott Meschnig leads Schaumburg, Ryan Starkman is out front for Hersey (8-3 in the MSL), Ryan Kulpins hopes to advance for Rolling Meadows, while Brett Meihls (fifth at Poplar) looks to help spring a Hoffman Estates upset. Buffalo Grove, Conant, and Palatine will also compete in the regional that, because of the recent addition of a third IHSA boys golf class, will again send only three teams on to sectionals instead of four as in the past. But according to Biggs, there is a movement afoot to return to the old system of four teams getting out of regionals.
"Otherwise," said Biggs, "you'll always see the same schools advancing."
Maine West, Leyden, and host Elk Grove will stride to the tee Tuesday at the Grens regional at Fox Run Golf Links against Maine East, Maine South, Lake Park and four Chicago schools. Barrington competes in the McHenry regional versus the likes of Mundelein, Cary-Grove and Woodstock. The Broncos lost only once in MSL play (to Prospect) and finished second to the Knights at the MSL tourney. Marc Ackermann, second individually at Poplar Creek, has been solid all year for the Broncos.
Wheeling was assigned to the difficult New Trier regional at Winnetka Golf Club. The Wildcats will face off against not only the perennially state-title hopeful Trevians, but also stellar squads such as Evanston, Notre Dame and Glenbrook North. But Wheeling should have freshman star Jack Ferguson back from illness in addition to another frosh, Zack Nauert, who shot 80 to finish seventh at the MSL meet.
"With all due respect to the competition," said Wheeling coach Mark Menich, "New Trier will be the favorite. I think the Glenbrooks (North and South) will be tough as well, and in respect our team, I think we'd have to have a very special day to get out but you never know, especially with the weather conditions they're predicting. The last two years we've had an (individual) player qualify for Sectionals but I'm hoping for a little more this year."
St. Rita, St. Ignatius, Thornton Fractional South, Zion-Benton, Machesney Park Harlem, Belleville East, Joliet, Normal Community, West Aurora, Streamwood and York will also host regionals, feeding into next week's five sectionals, where the 10 state qualifying teams (in addition to advancing individuals) will be determined.
- Bill Esbrook