Jones, DeTrempe light it up at Fremd regional
Tuesday afternoon ended at Hilldale Golf Course with the sun shining on the Class 3A regional.
During play, however, nature wasnt so kind to the golfers.
The action began with light rain and wind, and Fremd senior Sean Jones took his 1-over 72 into the clubhouse as the early leader.
"I thought my score would hold up," Jones said. "The conditions started to get tougher when I came into the clubhouse."
As the rain picked up and the wind gusts grew stronger, St. Viator freshman Luke DeTrempe shot a 72 to force a playoff with Jones.
"I walked by him on the way in and (Jones) said 'playoff,' " DeTrempe said. "I didn't think I would be in contention."
On a one-hole playoff, DeTrempe sunk an 18-foot putt for par to put the pressure on Jones.
"I was nervous," DeTrempe said. "I wanted to make it to put the pressure on, but I knew he would make it. He's a clutch putter."
Jones proved DeTrempe right by sinking a 10-foot birdie putt for the win.
Last week, Jones returned from injury to win the MSL individual title at Poplar Creek.
"This is crucial for his confidence," said Fremd coach Josh Teschner.
St. Viator coach Jack Halpin couldn't have been happier for DeTrempe.
"He's a freshman," Halpin kept repeating. "He was on the freshman team to start the season. I made a list at the beginning of the season of our great depth, and Luke wasn't on it."
According to Halpin, DeTrempe went to a couple of tournaments and delivered a 75 and a 76. That got the varsity coach's attention.
"I went to our freshman coach and told him he wouldn't be seeing Luke anymore," said Halpin.
DeTrempe, whose brother Nick took second in state in 2006, struggled during his practice round and was sent to his golf coach Dan Kochevar on Monday. The move looked like it paid off.
Besides DeTrempe, the Lions put together a great round of golf finishing second through fifth individually. Dan Stringfellow had the third-best round of the day (76), defending individual state champion Joe Carlson was fourth (75), just in front of Brad Klune (76).
St. Viator finished with a combined score of 297, distancing them from second-place Fremd (324) and third-place Prospect (326). All three will join the field at the Glenbrook North sectional, which will be played Monday at Sportsman Country Club in Northbrook. Hersey shots 332 and finished fourth, followed by Conant (338), Schaumburg (343), Hoffman Estates (347), Palatine (351), Buffalo Grove (355) and Rolling Meadows (362).
"This is our fifth regional championship in a row," Halpin said. "We're going for our third state championship in a row. I've been putting the pressure on them all season. They're ready."
If Stringfellow and the Lions can make it to state, that would make him the first boys golfer to make it downstate four straight years.
After Jones, Fremd counted scores by Brad Peterson (83) and Max Stejskal (84); Brad Beutler, Chris Ramirez and Jackson Tworek each shot 85.
The Knights were led by Jim Poulos' 78; they also counted scores from Cael Kiess (80), Matt Maloney (83) and Mike Sokolik (85).
A total of eight players advanced to the sectioanl as individuals - Conant's Kyle Severinsen (78) and Anthony Altosino (83), Hoffman Estates' David Krzepicki (78) and Brett Meihls (80), Hersey's Kevin Snodgrass (80), Schaumburg's Tim Hugo (81) and Scott Meschnig (83), and Buffalo Grove's Andrew Ly (81).