Wheaton Academy ties for state crown
NORMAL - Wheaton Academy was seemingly poised to run away with the title.
But the annals of boys state golf has never seen a program quite like Normal U-High.
The Warriors used a brilliant opening start to forge an 8-shot lead at the turn over first-day leader Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin on Saturday at the Class 2A state championship at Weibring Golf Club in Normal.
Then Normal U-High, which was seemingly dead in the water after its first-day ninth-place team result, roared back behind individual champion Logan Stauffer, who fired a 1-under-par 71 to frame the Pioneers' 310 total.
U-High leapfrogged seven teams, but Blake Biddle came to the rescue for the Warriors.
The four-year stalwart drained a clutch 10-footer to save bogey at the last and give Wheaton Academy a two-day total of 643 - the same as U-High.
The IHSA does not break ties at the state championship, even though Wheaton Academy had the Pioneers on the customary tiebreaker - the fifth card.
The teams were declared co-champions.
"It's not bittersweet at all," said Wheaton Academy coach Bob Broman. "We're still the champions."
The Warriors' fourth state appearance in the last five years yielded the first title for a boys program at the West Chicago school; the girls soccer team has won two state championships.
Biddle and classmate David Flynn, the defending champion, were among a group of five tied for the lead after the first day.
Flynn bettered Biddle by a stroke, 77-78, in his fourth state outing to finish tied for sixth.
"I really didn't finish well," said Flynn, who was 1-over after 13 holes. "I was really frustrated with myself. I was thinking too much of the team (score) when I should have been consciously trying to make a contribution to the team."
Biddle also earned all-state recognition with his tie for eighth.
Lars Olson, CJ Urbanowski, Jeff Berg, Jay Gulbransen and Elio Vento were the other Wheaton Academy golfers winning the state team title.
"The weird thing is, we were the best team in the state numbers-wise regardless of division," Biddle said of the Warriors' astounding regular-season play. "That's why they play the state championship."
At the Class 3A state tournament in Bloomington at The Den at Fox Creek, Waubonsie Valley needed a U-High-type explosion to get into trophy contention.
But it never materialized for the St. Charles East sectional champion.
Waubonsie Valley was 8 shots higher in second-day play to finish with a 651 overall, good for ninth overall.
St. Viator (611) and its senior star, Danny Stringfellow, who lives in Roselle and claimed top honors with a level-par 144 aggregate, became the first school in state history to win the largest-class division three years in a row.
But the Warriors have designs on a return trip; the team has no seniors in its six-man lineup.
"Our coaches told us to go out and have fun today - and I think that helped a lot," said Alec Meyer, a sophomore who claimed top-20 status with his 156 two-day total.
Among top individuals, Hinsdale Central senior Theo Lederhausen closed out his decorated career with a fourth-place finish (151).
Naperville North freshman Raymond Knoll announced his presence with a 74, which included a scorching 2-under-34 on his front side.
"I got off to a very good start," said Knoll, who tied for 13th. "I've played in some big tournaments with older guys, so I'm kind of used to (the pressure)."
Glenbard West sophomore Kyle Kochevar reduced a half-dozen strokes off his second-day score to secure another top-20 finish.
"(One-fifty-two, which he shot last year,) was my goal for this year," Kochevar said. "I know the course a lot more now."
Neuqua Valley seniors Stephen Powers and Austin Mitchell ended their careers, but WW South sophomore Tee-K Kelly is yet another of the vast underclass talents.
Girls: Making its fourth downstate trip this decade, Wheaton Warrenville South was determined to made amends for a subpar showing last fall in southern Illinois.
With junior standout Sarah Skurla leading the way, the Tigers secured their finest finish in program history with a fifth-place showing at the Class AA girls golf state finals Saturday at Hickory Ridge in Carbondale.
Homewood-Flossmoor obliterated the field to add another state title to its burgeoning showcase, and Conant senior Kris Yoo defended her individual crown with a one-hole playoff victory over Kaneland junior Hayley Guyton.
"I was having issues with putting, getting the ball in the hole," Skurla said of her weekend performance. "I would say I improved about 10 shots per day over last year."
Skurla paced the Tigers, who saw seniors Mallory Glanzman and Amy Wood conclude their careers, while underclassmen Renee Solberg and Emily Johnson scored both days.
WW South shaved 6 strokes of its first-day total, and Hinsdale Central fell three spots from its Friday position to place sixth.
"The girls played very well," said WW South coach Art Tang. "(Skurla) struck the ball excellent but putted average. She left some shots out there."
St. Francis' Kayla Stueland failed in a repeat all-state bid, but the junior came out smoking, nearly making eagle on her second hole, in reducing 9 shots off her first-day run with a sterling 2-over-par 74.
"I minimized the shots I gave away and had 4 birdies," said Stueland, who settled for a tie for 15th. "Some of the tougher holes were playing into the wind. That made it tougher."
Glenbard West sophomore southpaw Brooke Kochevar had rounds of 80 and 79 to secure top-20 status.