Ghim steps it up for Buffalo Grove
Buffalo Grove's Doug Ghim may be only a freshman, but he already plays like a veteran.
The talented frosh, who won a dramatic sectional playoff to earn a right to compete at the boys state golf tournament in Bloomington, fired a 76 Friday at the “Den at Fox Creek Golf Course.
Ghim eagled his final hole to finish tied for 11th place amongst 110 golfers, with 18 holes left to play today.
“He had a good overall round, said BG coach Pete Duffer, “but the incredible thing is, it could have been even better if he didn't have three or four putts just lip out.
“He's a very mature kid, but there's some things he's still working on – like being a little too aggressive, especially after he's had a bad hole.
Ghim started on No. 10 and birdied 3 of his first 5 holes, finishing up on the par-5 ninth by hitting a long drive, then a well-placed 9-iron to the green, where he nailed a 35 foot putt for the eagle.
“This is a good, tough course, but I think it's gettable, said Ghim. “I'm going to come out tomorrow and maybe be a little more cautious and hope to put up another good round.
Lake Forest leads the team race, 7 shots ahead of Naperville North, with Glenbrook North and Quincy just 1 more stroke back.
Deerfield senior Bennett Lavin, last year's state individual runner-up behind Viator's Danny Stringfellow, carded a 2-under 70 to finish at the top of the leaderboard.
Nick Jan of Glenbrook North and Waubonsie Valley's Thomas O'Bryan both shot 72 to tie for second in the 36-hole tournament, but the highlight of the day came from Fremd's Zach Isoda.
The sophomore hit a 6-iron on the par 3 13th for a hole-in-one, his first ace ever.
“There were at least 25 people or more watching, said Fremd coach Josh Teschner, “and when the ball went in the crowd went wild. You could hear them from two or three fairways away.
Isoda almost lost sight of the ball as it left the tee but wound up watching it go in the hole.
“It was pretty cool, said the sophomore. “I'm definitely saving this ball.
Isoda and teammate Jackson Tworek both finished at 81 for the Vikings, who ended the day as a team in ninth place.
Brian Bodolay (83) and Brad Peterson (84) also counted scores at Fox Creek.
“We had a good front nine, said Teschner, “but the wheels came off a little for us on the back nine. Still I think the guys finished pretty well and gave us some momentum going into tomorrow.
St. Viator senior Rick Gattone shot 79 to finished tied for 24th place, while Schaumburg senior Scott Meschnig finished at 80.
Although it was a good day for mid-October standards in Bloomington with fairly mild temperatures, Meschnig said a recent dry spell had made the greens hard and fast.
“To try to get the ball to land and stop on the greens today was a trick, said the senior.