St. Edward's Winters advances to state

He'll be the Lone Ranger on the golf course for St. Edward this weekend, but at least he'll be there.

Green Wave junior Eric Winters shot a 75 at Edgebrook Monday to finish in second place and earn an individual qualifying spot to state out of the Class 1A Somonauk sectional. Winters will compete in the 36-hole state finals Friday and Saturday at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington.

"I got off to an awful start," said Winters, who was 4-over par after 4 holes. "But on the back nine I hit better iron shots and I putted better and that made me feel good."

St. Edward failed to advance as a team, shooting a 355. North Shore Country Day won the team title with a 313 and Rockford Lutheran advanced Downstate with a 322. Steve Embrey of Peotone shot a 72 to win the individual title. St. Edward sophomore Michael Holevas, who qualified for state last year, missed the cut with a 93.

"We were missing that fourth score," said St. Edward coach Greg Winters. "We were happy to get out of the regional. We got one down but Michael can't even remember the last time he shot a 93."

Eric Winters will be making his first trip to state, but he has been to Prairie Vista to watch his older brother Brad, as well as Holevas, play.

"I've seen the course and a few of the holes look tricky but other than that it looks like a really nice course," Eric Winters said.

John Radtke contributed to this report.