Marmion, Wheaton Academy, Burlington C. advance
First came the sigh of relief, then the flurry of handshakes and bro-hugs exchanged between anyone wearing a bright red Marmion Academy golf shirt.
Seconds after a missed Wheaton Academy putt on No. 18 at The Highlands of Elgin, the Marmion boys golfers celebrated their Class 2A regional title Tuesday afternoon.
The Cadets shot 314 as a team to edge fellow Suburban Christian Conference member Wheaton Academy by a stroke. Host school Burlington Central, led by sophomore medalist Matt Weber’s par 72, finished third (322).
All three teams advance to the Class 2A Wheaton Academy sectional at Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles on Monday.
“Last year we didn’t make it through regionals as a team, but we still had four guys make it to sectionals as individuals,” Marmion coach Doug Roberts said. “But we were hoping to get the team thing going to get guys excited and involved here as a unit. This is exciting. Now we get to look forward to Monday against our usual rivals.”
Marmion’s lowest-scoring golfers were Matt Fazio and Marshall Kanute, who tied for fifth overall with identical scores of 77. They were supported by Zach Woytych and Joe Fritz, who each carded 80, er, sort of.
Fritz actually shot a 79 but mistakenly signed a score card stating he shot 80. However, the sophomore was not penalized beyond being credited with the 80. Fortunately for the Cadets, the lost stroke did not come back to cost them the title.
“You’re allowed to sign for a higher score; you’re not allowed to sign for a lower score,” Roberts said. “Had he signed off on a 78 he would have been DQ’d. He’s a sophomore so it’s a good learning experience for him.”
Fazio, who underwent two cancer-related surgeries in early August, hit his irons with pinpoint control. On the Par-3, 190-yard seventh hole, the senior laced a 5-iron within five feet of the flag and sank the putt for a birdie. He missed only two greens in regulation.
“My ball striking was fantastic,” Fazio said. “I’ve been trying to get back from my surgeries and finally make something click. It clicked today.”
Second-place Wheaton Academy was led by seniors Elio Vento (75), Lars Olson (76) and Jack Anderson (78) and junior Danny Gryfinski (86).
“It was close but I was just glad we got to sectionals,” Vento said. “That’s all I really cared about. We’re actually pretty excited to have the sectionals at our home course. We’re feeling pretty good about that.”
Weber shot par on a sunny, 75-degree day in calm conditions. He birdied the second, sixth and 13th holes and bogeyed Nos. 10, 15 and 18.
“The conditions were perfect, but I struggled a little bit on the back nine,” said Weber, a defending sectional champion who went out in 34 and came back in 38. “I didn’t hit the ball that great. I messed up on some easy holes, like the 15th hole on the back nine. It’s just a simple Par 5. I played the Par fives on the front nine pretty well, I guess. I just kind of lost focus on the back.”
Weber’s 72 was good for a 3-stroke victory over Vento and St. Edward senior Michael Holevas, who qualified for sectional play for the fourth time. Holevas headed the list of top 10 individual qualifiers not on qualifying teams.
Holevas could have challenged Weber for medalist honors had his putter been a bit friendlier.
“I hit the ball well, but I just didn’t make any putts,” said Holevas, who triple bogeyed No. 11. “I gave myself lots of opportunities, but I really didn’t make anything. Overall, I’m happy with it. I’m moving on. Unfortunately, the team’s not, which is a little disappointing but it happens.”
Other individual qualifiers for the sectional at Pheasant Run include Glenbard South’s Adam Turner (78) and Will Lear (79), Jon Henricks of IMSA (79), Kaneland’s Matt Yonkovich (80), Hampshire’s Jeremy Yoder (81), Jon Bruggeman of St. Francis (81), David Hannan of Lisle (82) and Mitch Gasbarro of Glenbard South (82) and Tony Wodzinski from St. Francis (83).