Scouting boys golf / Northwest
Scouting Class 3A boys golf / Northwest
When: Friday and Saturday
Where: The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course, Bloomington
Team race: A new Class 3A winner is guaranteed as three-time defending champion St. Viator missed making it out of sectionals this season. Fremd hopes to fill the void as the local favorite after senior Brad Peterson and sophomore Zach Isoda both shot 73 at Monday's Viator sectional to lead the Vikings to a thrid-place finish and a berth at the Den. “When Brad is on, there are very few players in the state that can match his shot-making ability, said Fremd coach Josh Teschner, “and Zach has shown over and over this season that he's a force in the high school golf world. The Vikings also got a big assist from senior Jackson Tworek, who fired a 77 at Old Orchard Country Club and says he and his teammates started to get an inkling about midway through the sectional they were in a great spot to advance. “We saw some of the nine-hole scores that were posted, said Tworek, “and some of the other teams weren't going as low as we though they might. We knew we were shooting some low scores and our coach was going back and forth telling us that it looked like we were in good shape. Senior Brian Bodolay (80) contributed to the scoring at Old Orchard while teammates Brad Beutler (Sr.) and Josh Rosenzweig (Fr.) will also be counted on heavily in Bloomington. “Since the Charger Invite, which was a bit of a coming out party for us, said Teschner, “this team has been more focused than any team I've ever coached. “The four seniors, in particular, are geared up toward one goal – winning a state trophy. The Vikings' toughest competition may come from perennial contender Hinsdale Central, winners of the Naperville Central sectional, while North Shore stalwarts New Trier (winners at the Mt. Carmel sectional), Loyola, Lake Forest (first at Old Orchard) and Glenbrook North will present formidable challenges. Quincy is back again after winning the Edwardsville Sectional, while Saint Patrick, Providence Catholic, Granite City, St. Charles East and Naperville North round out the field.
Individual race: When Buffalo Grove freshman Doug Ghim took a quadruple-bogey 9 at the 15th hole at Monday's Viator sectional he knew, as he said, that there “was no more room for error. And the frosh didn't make another mistake as he finished at 75, then bested Prospect's Ryan Kowalski in a playoff to qualify for the state tournament. “I was a little nervous in the playoff, said Ghim, “but basically I looked at it as just two more holes. It was nothing I couldn't handle. Now the confident freshman, who took medalist honors at the BG regional this year by firing a 3-under 69, looks to make history in Bloomington. “I'm looking forward to seeing Doug compete in a 36-hole format, said BG coach Pete Duffer, referring to the two-day state tournament. “I know he's competed at 36 holes before and I'm eager to see what he can do (at the Den). Doug has an uncanny will and is a focused and determined competitor – he's got an exciting future ahead of him and is a joy to watch. Senior Scott Meschnig of Schaumburg will compete at Fox Run after carding a 71 at the Naperville Central sectional, while St. Viator senior Ricky Gattone moved on after firing a 74 at Old Orchard. Senior Bennett Lavin of Deerfield, last season's individual runner-up, is back for another shot at the state crown while sophomore Raymond Knoll of Naperville North, Wheaton-Warrenville South's Tee-K Kelly, Thomas O'Bryan of Waubonsie Valley, Tim Castillo of Quincy and Jimmy Slovitt of New Trier should be among the favorites. Junior Quinn Prchal of Glenbrook South, and seniors Pat Cermak (St. Patrick) and Scott Cahill (Jacobs) are other players to watch.