Depth keys St. Charles East's win at Geneva invite

St. Charles East and Glenbard South dominated the individual and team scores of the 17-school Geneva Invitational Thursday afternoon at Mill Creek.

The schools shared the top four individual scores as St. Charles East senior Gary King defeated the Raiders' Michael Wittenberg on a scorecard playoff after the two finished the round with matching 2-under 69s.

Glenbard South senior Russell Matos was one off the blistering pace with a 70, but the Saints' Daniel Hougen had a level-par 71 to keep St. Charles East in contention.

St. Charles East senior Colin Johnson was one of the three players to shoot a 72, and Ronnie Griggs' 79 rounded out the Saints team score of 291.

The Raiders would ultimately deadlock the team race, but the Saints' fifth and sixth players, Kyle McWeeney and Charlie Blood, had 85s to give St. Charles East the victory on the tiebreaker.

Marmion and Burlington Central were well behind the front-runners' torrid totals, finishing at 309.

DeKalb was fifth and Kaneland rounded out the top six.

"I was hitting putts and putting it close," said King, the Saints only returning starter who had 7 birdies on his round. "I was doing everything well. This is a career-low-tying round."

"I was hanging in there," Haugen said. "I was trying to give my team a counting score."

"Two ninety-one is an awesome golf score," St. Charles East coach John Stock said. "We don't want to peak in August. It's been a while since we won here."

Wittenberg had a pair of birdies and an eagle on the par-5 17th hole to lead the Raiders' cause.

"My ball striking was great," Wittenberg said. "(On 17) I hit my drive to the 150- (yard) stake and hit a pitching wedge to about two feet. My ball-striking is what saved me today."

Waubonsie Valley finished 10th with a 321.

"We're a very young team," first-year Waubonsie Valley coach Eric Flodberg said. "I thought they overcame some hardships today. It's hard to compete with schools below 300."

Marmion had five players at 79 or better in turning back DeKalb for third on the fifth card.

Returning Class 3A sectional qualifier Luke Hoss led the Cadets with a 74.

"We had six guys 81 or better," Marmion coach Doug Roberts said. "Not too shabby. "We're still coming off a pretty big high beating (reigning team-state qualifier) Wheaton Warrenville South (on Wednesday)."

Kaneland senior Jesse Denon was in a three-way tie for eighth after leading the Knights with a 2-over 73.

Nick Robinson missed out of top-10 status with his 73 as the Batavia senior fell short in the scorecard playoff.

Matt Fisher led host Geneva with a 75; the Vikings finished seventh with a 314.

Jake Muehlschlegel was the low man for St. Charles North, and Mac Cowens' 75 held the same distinction for Aurora Central Catholic.

Burlington Central has four members of its state-qualifying Class 2A team back this fall.

Sophomore Joe Sherman led the Rockets with a 73.

"I made a lot of up and downs coming home," Sherman said.

The Lenz brothers used their intelligence to navigate the par-71 layout in Geneva.

"I definitely played smarter than usual," said Jon Lenz, the Larkin senior who finished 1-over par. "I usually hit nothing but driver. I hit 4- and 5-irons off the tees today."

Dan Lenz followed a similar game plan to his twin brother.

"I only hit driver once the whole day," Dan Lenz said. "After making bogey I just kept my head up and tried to make a birdie. My short game (was solid). I was hitting my chips really close."