St. Charles North wins quad
St. Charles North was fully aware the margin of error against Geneva was virtually nonexistent.
For Waubonsie Valley and Neuqua Valley the stakes were equally high.
Thursday afternoon at Bowes Creek Country Club in Elgin, the Upstate Eight Conference held an unofficial league preview of the pending boys golf championship with a critical quadrangular between host St. Charles North, St. Charles East, Waubonsie Valley and Neuqua Valley.
Raghav Cherala led four St. Charles North players in the 30s, firing a 37 at the picturesque par-36 layout, to enable the North Stars to sweep the competition with a 153.
Waubonsie Valley appeared dead in the water in its showdown with fellow Valley Division unbeaten Neuqua Valley, only to have senior Alex Koulos single-handedly reverse the teams’ result with a medalist-earning 35.
The Warriors’ 157 total was two better than the Wildcats’ 159, and St. Charles East ended up taking it on the chin three times with its 162 result.
“We wanted to have a realistic chance for next Thursday (at the conference tournament at St. Andrews),” said St. Charles North coach Rob Prentiss on the imperative to stay within two points of Geneva while handing Waubonsie Valley (9-1, 5-0) and Neuqua Valley (7-2, 5-1) their first dual-match losses of the season. “We have had a really good week. Three quality teams came in today, and we beat them all.”
St. Charles North (11-1 overall, 5-1 in the division) suffered its lone loss to River-leading Geneva and can capture its division at St. Andrews next week under various scenarios.
Cherala, only a sophomore, spearheaded the North Stars’ surge with a 1-over 37, leading teammates Dan Shepherd (38), Pete Roschman (39) and Ryan Dal Degan (39) under the traditional prep benchmark of 40 for nine holes.
“I thought we had a huge advantage playing here,” Cherala said of the two-year-old course that was unfamiliar to many of the competitors. “I could tell by some of the shots we were hitting, and (our opponents) were making mental mistakes. We’re all stepping it up at the right time.”
Sean Lenchner was the lone bright spot for St. Charles East in a week that saw the perennial power drop dual matches to highly regarded Hinsdale Central, Benet, Geneva and its three conference rivals on Thursday.
The Saints began the week at 4-0 in duals, only to fall to 5-6 overall and 4-2 in the River.
“I have been looking for a round like this for a long time,” Lenchne said of his runner-up, level-par day. “I was hitting the ball really well. I made the putts that I need to make.”
Koulos regained the magic that made him the Class 3A West Aurora individual regional champion as a sophomore two years ago.
The Warriors’ southpaw put on a dazzling display of course management, ball-striking and short-game wizardry with eight-par, one-birdie performance.
Playing in the final foursome of the day, Kolous enabled the Warriors to overtake archrival Neuqua Valley to take a two-point lead into the Valley tournament next week.
“After the first couple of holes, I calmed down the nerves,” said Koulos, who had brilliant up and downs for pars on the only two holes he missed in regulation. “It was tough getting the speed of the greens right. I just told myself to leave (my approach shots) below the hole.”
“Alex bailed us out,” said Waubonsie Valley coach Dave Owles. “We didn’t have anyone else in the 30s.”
Neuqua Valley was led by Jason Roach with a 37, the lone Wildcat to break 40.
Spike Grosshuesch was far from unhappy.
“I was very pleased with how we shot,” the Wildcats coach said.
“(The Valley championship) is still going to come down to the conference tournament,” Owles said.