St. Edward's Winters wins regional crown
St. Edward junior Eric Winters braved the elements Tuesday to become a regional champion.
Winters shot a 4-over par 76 to best the field at the Class 1A Timothy Christian regional at Oak Brook Golf Course. With sophomore Michael Holevas carding a 79 and junior Blake Poremba an 81, the Green Wave also nabbed the third and final team qualifying spot with a 342, Ryan DiCristofanio shot a 106 for St. Edward's other counting score.
"It was windy and rainy and it was a mental grind," said Winters, who will be making his third straight appearance in a sectional tournament. "You just had to stay in it and know the scores were going to be high. It feels good to have the team going as well."
North Shore Country Day won the regional title with a 331 and Chicago Latin was second at 339.
Elgin Academy junior Christian Lynn advanced to sectionals as an individual with a round of 90.
Sectional play will be Monday at Edgebrook in Sandwich.
Class 3A at Harlem: Jacobs advanced junior Scott Cahill and senior Josh Kopka to Monday's Lake Forest sectional at Lake Bluff Golf Club. Cahill shot a 75 and Kopka an 80. Harlem's Patipan Pipatpinyopong won the individual title with an even par 72 at Atwood Homestead Golf Course in Rockford. Rockford Auburn (320), Rockford Guilford (321) and Rockford Boylan (322) were the team qualifiers. Jacobs finished fifth, Dundee-Crown seventh and Huntley eighth.
Class 2A at Prairie Ridge: Hampshire shot a 352 to earn the third and final qualifying spot at Prairie Isle. The Whip-Purs counted an 80 from senior Jeff Cohn, 81 from senior Grant Yoder, 88 from junior Jeremy Yoder and then had 103s from junior Rich Reiter, senior Chris Moquin and junior Ryan Tasche. Crystal Lake Central won the team title with a 326 and had the individual champion in Riley Bauman, who shot a 78. Prairie Ridge shot 332 to finish second. Advancers will play in the Wheaton Academy sectional Monday at Pheasant Run in St. Charles.
Class 2A at Aurora Central: Burlington Central junior Matt Allison shot an 84 at Phillips Park in Aurora to advance to the Wheaton Academy sectional at Pheasant Run Monday. Wheaton Academy senior David Flynn was the individual winner with a 74 and the Warriors won the team title with a 308. Marmion was second at 326 and St. Francis third at 329. Burlington Central finished seventh.
Class 1A at Rockford Christian Life: Westminster Christian junior Christian Benson had an 87 and senior Brandon Weingartner an 88 as each advanced to Edgebrook and the Somonauk sectional Monday. Rockford Lutheran's Will Drerup was the individual winner with a 77 at Elliot Golf Course in Rockford. Lutheran also won the team title with a 321, while Rockford Christian was second at 347 and Byron third at 356. Despite finishing fifth, Westminster missed the team cut by just 1 shot.
John Radtke contributed to this report.