Grayslake Central boys golf sectional suspended
Mother Nature was the only winner Monday at the Class 2A Grayslake Central boys golf sectional.
After waiting through a 1 hour and 20 minute rain and lightning delay at Stonewall Orchard Golf Club, tournament officials suspended play with 52 players still on the course, some with as many as five holes to complete.
Play will resume at 9 a.m. Tuesday with each of the 52 players having marked their last shots when play was suspended.
"The course drains well, it just rained so hard and we had the lightning," said fifth-year Grayslake Central coach Jim Mazzetta, who along with Rams' first-year athletic director Brian Moe made the decision to suspend play after surveying the course a final time shortly before 5 p.m.
"We've got 52 still out there. We'll come back (Tuesday) and do the best we can."
The golfers and teams still on the course are some of the tournament's best, based on regional results. Only the sixth golfers from regional champions Freeport, Wheaton Academy, Vernon Hills and Hampshire had finished their rounds.
Of the eight teams that did finish, St. Francis is the leader on the board with a 317 that was fueled by three sub-80 rounds on the par-72 course. Based on the elevated scores as the weather worsened, coupled with the lack of sufficient holes to make up many strokes and a bleak weather forecast for Tuesday, the Spartans could be in a position to win their first sectional title since 1994.
"I thought the winning score would be around a 310 but we have a good chance now with three scores in the 70s," said St. Francis coach Greg Baresel, whose team advanced to state last year, finishing in eighth place. "They played well. Teeing off early gave us an advantage. I knew all along we had a really strong team even though we lost several seniors from last year. I knew we had the potential to repeat getting downstate but I knew it would be a challenge because there's a lot of good teams here."
Senior Sean Doherty led the way for the Spartans Monday, shooting a 77. Luke Armbrust came in at 78, Jonathan Nocek at 79 and Pat Mochel at 83.
"I struggled on the front nine but I started playing really good on the back," said Doherty. "I started hitting the ball really far and I only had 28 putts. That was helpful.
"It's my senior year and I thought this could be my last round so I wanted to do my best. It's a really nice golf course. I liked it."
The host Rams also finished their team round and while their 331 won't take them downstate this weekend as a team, junior Kyle Reynolds figures to be in the hunt for an individual spot at state after shooting a 76. The top three teams and top 10 individuals not on a qualifying team advance to this weekend's state tournament at Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University in Normal.
"I managed to get off the tee really well and I managed to keep my ball low and out of the wind," Reynolds said. "I was able to get up and down and pull some 2-putts. My putter kept me in the round today."
Burlington Central finished its round with a 324 and while that probably won't get the Rockets, who finished fourth at state last year, another team trip south, senior Austin Niesel stands a chance at making the individual cut after shooting a 79. If Niesel can make it to state it would extend the career of 25th-year BC coach Deb Twenhafel, who will retire at the end of the school year.
The individual leader going into Tuesday's finish is Richmond-Burton senior Jordan Hahn, a Wisconsin recruit who shot a 70.
Several top individuals remain on the course, including St. Edward junior Michael Mattas, who won last week's Vernon Hills regional with a 68. Mattas will resume play Tuesday on the 14th green and is 6-over par.
"I didn't really have it today," he said. "I just have to come out (Tuesday) and stay where I'm at or get a couple better. At least seeing some of the scores I know what I have to do."
Kaneland's Jeff VanGemert (88) and Jesse Denton (89) and St. Edward's Jason Allen (89) also finished their rounds., as did Aurora Central Catholic's team, which shot a 379 and was led by Mac Cowen's 80.