Playoff payoff for O'Bryan
BLOOMINGTON -- The end was as anticlimactic as the first sudden-death playoff hole between Thomas O'Bryan and Nick Robles was scintillating.
O'Bryan, the Waubonsie Valley four-year starter and recent commitment to Wisconsin, made a routine 2-putt on the second playoff hole after Robles' drive was lost in high grass.
The two were tied at the end of regulation at 4-over-par 148 as O'Bryan, who was level-par 72 on Friday, and Robles battled each other all day at The Den at Fox Creek in the final individual pairing.
On the first playoff hole O'Bryan faced a nasty 12-footer for par.
“I knew he was going to make that putt, Robles said.
O'Bryan did just that, draining the crucial conversion to put the pressure on Robles, who was 4 feet closer.
Robles was also up to the task.
But on the second playoff hole Robles lost his drive to the left of the fairway.
Despite an intensive search by scores of fellow competitors, coaches and spectators, the ball was never located.
“That was kind of a bad break Nick lost his ball, O'Bryan said.
With Robles pressed to make bogey at best, the Crystal Lake South athlete ultimately settled for triple.
O'Bryan opened the day facing a 2-shot deficit to Bennett Lavin, but the Deerfield senior soared to a 79 to open the door for others.
Naperville North, which was vying for the team title, had Nick Buege and Raymond Knoll, also knocking at the door.
During the course of regulation, both players were either tied for the lead or within a stroke.
Was O'Bryan concerned about another player in front of his foursome coming out of nowhere?
“The thought crossed my mind several times, O'Bryan said.
“I couldn't have played the front nine any better, said Buege, who was at 73 to start his round. “I birdied the two hardest holes on the course (Nos. 5 and 6).
“I was thinking more of the team than individually, Knoll said. “I had a stupid double-bogey on 16 (to take myself out of contention).
Knoll and Buege eventually ended 2 and 3 shots out of the playoff, respectively, with their fifth- and sixth-place results.
But the Huskies, making their first team appearance since 2002, claimed a trophy with their third-place finish.
“We're ecstatic to be bringing home a trophy, Naperville North coach Ryan Hantak said.
Robles and O'Bryan had pars at the last to force the playoff.
“I couldn't be more proud of him, Waubonsie Valley coach Dave Owles said of the first state champion in school history. “What a way for him to close out his high school career.
Glenbard West junior Kyle Kochevar also entertained thoughts of overall victory until wilting late in the tough conditions.
The Hilltoppers' three-time state qualifier finished ninth.
At the Class 2A tournament, conducted the Weibring Golf Club in Normal, Glenbard South leapfrogged four teams to finish eighth.
“We had a great day, Glenbard South coach Scott Iliff said.
Adam Turner fired rounds of 78 and 81 to earn all-state status with his eighth-place finish.