Holevas, St. Edward off to state
St. Edward' Michael Holevas took top honors and guided the Green Wave to a state-advancing performance at Monday's Class A Westminster Christian boys golf sectional.
Holevas shot a low round of 73 on the par-71 Golf Club of Illinois course in Algonquin and St. Edward shot a 326 to place second as a team and advance to this weekend's IHSA state meet at Prairie Vista in Bloomington. Rockford Lutheran took top team honors with a 320, with Chicago Latin also advanced with a 328.
“I struck the ball pretty well and I putted well, said Holevas, who finished with an even-par 35 on the front 9. “This is a tough course. There are a lot of places you can get into trouble. Two yards above the green you can get in a bunker.
Eric Winters found some trouble, especially with his irons. The Green Wave senior finished with a round of 78 and bounced back after shooting a 40 on the front 9 to complete a 38 on the back 9. On the fourth hole, a 140-yard par-3 shot, Winter shanked the ball.
“It was pretty much a struggle the whole day, Winters said. “I wasn't hitting my irons. Toward the end, I got the irons under control on the back 9. I made up for it in my chipping and putting.
One of the strongest stretches of St. Edward's day came from Blake Poremba. While preparing to tee off on hole 13, Green Wave coach Greg Winters told Poremba he was going to need to shoot even par on the final 6 holes in order to give the Green Wave a chance to qualify for state. Poremba did, finishing the day with an 86. Dan Winters shot an 89 to round out the St. Edward scoring.
“After the first 9 we were in seventh place and 2 back of second place, coach Winters said. “I told them we're still in it if we have a decent round. Blake was really struggling and on 13, I said on the last six holes, you have to get par and he did.
Immaculate Conception's Patrick Heggerty marked his third straight trip to state finishing fourth as an individual. Heggerty shot a 77, capped off by a 38 on the back 9. The senior felt confident about his round, despite the difficult play of the course.
“It was very manageable today, Heggerty said. “I was pretty up and down. Today was one of those days where you hit a shot and it could be good or it could be bad.
Elgin Academy's Andrew Dyku (85) and Christian Lynne (82), Westminster's Christian Benson (95) and Brett Minta (82) and Jake Ettlebrick (82) all competed.