Hogenkamp leads the way for Grayslake Central

On his very first shot as Grayslake Central's new No. 1 golfer, Eric Hogenkamp gripped, ripped ... and found a hazard off the first tee.

A drop accompanied a drop in his enthusiasm.

"I played a bunch of tournaments over the summer, but I wasn't nervous like I was today," the senior said. "I don't know why. Maybe it was because I didn't want to let the team down now that I'm No. 1."

He didn't.

Hogenkamp recovered nicely from his opening tee shot. After taking his drop, he managed a bogey on the par-4 first and played his remaining eight holes in even par, earning medalist honors with a 37 and leading the Rams to a 167-172 win over visiting Jacobs in the teams' season opener at Stonewall Orchard Golf Club on Tuesday.

Grayslake Central junior Colton Brunk carded a 39, as he and Hogenkamp were the only golfers to break 40. Both played on the Rams' Class 2A state-qualifying team last fall.

Jacobs sophomore Sean Kozak paced his team with a 40.

"Tough course," Golden Eagles coach Jeremy Bauer said. "We didn't play exceptionally well, and they had a couple of guys in the 30s."

Hogenkamp thought he could have played even better than he did. He drove the 300-yard par-4 fourth hole, but three-putted.

Then on the par-5 eighth, he nearly reached the green in two. But he said a bad chip resulted in him settling for par.

His lone birdie came on the par-5 third, as he reached the green in two, after another long drive.

"I hit some good shots," Hogenkamp acknowledged.

Brunk lamented his bogey on the par-5 third and his bladed tee shot on the par-3 ninth that landed in the water, but his play was solid.

"I thought it was a good round overall," Brunk said. "I hit fairway and greens, and I putted decently."

Grayslake Central also counted sophomore Dan Choi's 45 and junior Cody Stover's 46. Senior Nick Wysocki, who also played on last season's downstate team, had a 47.

Jacobs' No. 1 Scott Cahill shot an uncharacteristic 44.

"If I were to guess," Bauer said, "I'd say that's his worst competitive round in a couple of years."

Jacobs also received a 43 from Devin Sloma and a 45 from Buzz Amann.