Neuqua Valley, Lyons tie for Fenton title
The Fenton Invitational had a much different backdrop than in the past several years Saturday at White Pines Golf Club.
"It felt more like October today with the wind blowing and the chill in the air," St. Charles North boys golf coach Rob Prentiss said.
Typically a launching pad for some of the top programs in the western suburbs as tournament play begins in earnest, the 32-team invitational, in its fourth decade, suited Neuqua Valley in Bensenville.
Senior Austin Reichart fired a 76 as the Wildcats' fifth man, which enabled Neuqua Valley to forge a tie with Lyons Township at 314.
Neuqua Valley had earlier used a top-12 77 from senior No. 1 John Walsh, and three other consistent scores from Jason Ranch (80), Greg Schwager (81) and Kyler Kearns (82) enabled the squad to better Lyons' fifth card for its first team title in 13 appearances at the venerable tournament.
Kearns' total was 9 shots better than the Lions' fifth card.
"I had a really rough start," Reichart said. "Golf is more a mental game than an athletic game. I just kept grinding out there."
Downers Grove South was a stroke behind Neuqua Valley and Lyons to finish third overall, while St. Charles North also bettered Niles Notre Dame on a tiebreaker for fourth at 320.
Wheaton Warrenville South, Marmion and West Aurora, which had the low individual in senior Nick Pavlik with a 3-over-par 73, were among the local programs to finish in the top 10.
The Wildcats' championship effort came as part-revelation, part-surprise to coach Spike Grossheusch.
"I am shocked," Grossheusch said. "Usually you have to be under 300 to win this tournament. What I'm impressed with was how consistent our scores were."
Downers Grove South senior Matt Kovienek had the lone red-number, front-nine score to finish with a 74, one shot behind Pavlik for top honors.
As is the case in most multi-team invitations, patience is paramount.
"You're out on the golf course for over six hours, and someone could have made a better putt or chip shot," Downers Grove South coach Jay Baum said of the Mustangs' narrow miss at the team title. "It shows a fine line in golf."
Nick Popejoy fashioned matching 38s to pace WW South, which was without the services of returning state qualifier Tee-K Kelly.
Former team champions Benet, Glenbard West and Hinsdale Central were considerably off the Neuqua Valley standard.
The two West Suburban Silver members had their top players at a different tournament.
"We've been in the middle of the pack all season," said Benet coach Dan Nagis, who was led by Bryan Vargas' 81.
Adam Turner led Glenbard South with a 78, and Billy Hoff was one better to pace York; Brian McKeown fired a 78 as the low man for Lake Park.
Mike Davis' 81 was the low number for Montini.
Bryson Hughes and Oliver Dobon were the lone members from Metea Valley and host Fenton to break 90.
St. Charles North had four scores within 5 strokes of one another to hold of Notre Dame for fourth place.
For the North Stars' top player, Nate Clark, it was far from a routine round.
"I only hit one green in regulation on the front, and two on the back," Clark said of his roundabout 77. "I got up and down a lot on the front (to save pars)."
Stephen Gow checked in with an 80 for the North Stars, who also counted an 81 from Dan Shepherd and an 82 by John Carroll.
"We're making strides as a program," Prentiss said. "It's been a while since we've been near the top (of the team standings at a major tournament)."
Matt Fazio and Evan Kline-Wedeen anchored the Marmion fortunes on Saturday.
Fazio survived the marathon day with steadiness down the stretch.
"I was grinding it out there at the end, just trying to get some pars at the end," said Fazio, who led the Cadets with a 77, two better than Kline-Wedeen.
Pavlik, on the other hand, has been a key contributor to West Aurora since breaking through as a sophomore in the Blackhawks' regional team victory two years ago.
The senior became the first West Aurora product to earn medalist honors since the program made its first appearance almost two decades ago.
Pavlik birdied his final hole in the shotgun start for his first major individual triumph.
"I wasn't expecting to win at all," Pavlik said. "I ended with a birdie, so that was clutch. It was kind of an uneventful 73, but I'll take it. I had 2 birdies and 5 bogeys."
"He's a good player," West Aurora coach Jay Bauer said of his No. 1 golfer. "Seventy-three is pretty low. It looks like the scores were higher than they have been (in recent years)."
Matt Milauskas and Lucas Kuzmanic fired respective rounds of 81 and 82 to pace Batavia, which ended with a 338 total.