Glenbard South collects a trophy
Russell Matos and Michael Wittenberg ended their Glenbard South boys golf season in style on Saturday in Normal.
The Raiders duo combined for 7 birdies during final-day action of the Class 2A boys finals at the Weibring Golf Club to lead Glenbard South to its first golf trophy in program history.
With each player firing a 1-over-par 72, the Raiders maintained their first-round position behind matching 81s from Christopher Dufort and Kevin Uvodich.
Downstate Morton won the team title behind freshman individual champion Tommy Kuhl, but the Raiders' 36-hole total of 622 was 2 shots better than Galesburg for second place.
"We had the possibility of doing something very special," Glenbard South coach Scott Iliff said of Morton holding a 4-shot lead entering final-round action. "We're really happy with the runner-up position. Hats off to Morton - they played great."
"I never really got nervous," Wittenberg said. "It was my last round of high school golf. I wanted to go out well."
Wittenberg ably complemented Matos' sixth-place final finish with another all-state performance for the Raiders at seventh solo.
"I really got my putting down," said Matos, whose 148 total was 1 better than Wittenberg. "I had trouble reading the greens (on Friday). I was able to put everything together."
St. Francis was fifth after dropping its Friday score 16 shots to finish with a 328-312 two-day total.
Jonathan Nocek led three Spartans in the 70s with his 4-over 75.
Connor Buckley and Pat Mochel had a 77 and 79 for the Spartans.
"We liked our position going off early," St. Francis coach Greg Baresel said. "We had a goal of placing in state."
Hinsdale Central was without peer for the third straight year at the Class 3A tournament at The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington.
Kenneth Li fired a sizzling 5-under 67 to win the individual state title by 5 shots with his 4-under 140 cumulative score.
Brendan O'Reilly was solo third for the Red Devils with his level-par 72 as Hinsdale Central was collectively 3-under on the day to turn back New Trier by 21 shots.
It was the third straight state title for Hinsdale Central.
Wheaton Warrenville South junior Brian McCaffrey fired a 1-under 71 to help forge a six-way tie for sixth place and all-state honors.
"It was the last round of the year," McCaffrey said. "I went out there and did the best that I could. I had a really nice up and down (for par) on No. 4 - my 13th hole - to keep my momentum to end the round strong."