Boys golf: Marmion in contention for 2A title

NORMAL - Marmion is in an ideal position heading into the final day of the boys golf season.

The Cadets needed a fifth-card tiebreaker against Kaneland to advance to the Class 2A state finals at the Illinois State University Weibring course.

But Marmion has made the most of its razor-thin advancement as sophomore transfer Peter Thayer fired a 4-over 75 to anchor the Cadets Friday afternoon.

Jimmy Morton and Nick Huggins had 76 and 77, respectively, and Sean Regan carded an 81 to round out the Marmion scoring.

The Cadets trail only Carmel - by 2 shots - after their first-round ended with a 309 total.

"Off the tee I was struggling, but around the greens I was very solid," said Thayer. "I made par at the last (a 20-footer) that probably shouldn't have been a par. A lot of ups and downs today."

"Peter Thayer and Jimmy Morton really played well," said Huggins, who was a Class 3A state qualifier last year. "(My round) was just OK. My short game was pretty good, though."

The Cadets were state runner-up five years ago in their last Class 2A appearance.

Carmel won the St. Viator sectional on Monday.

"It speaks to how strong our sectional was," Marmion coach Mike Rodriquez said of St. Viator producing the two overnight leaders. "We did really well in our preparation in the practice round."

Burlington Central southpaw Joe Sherman had a most unusual day at the office.

The four-time state qualifier was looking at mediocrity in the face until a back-nine surge turned his outward 43 into a sparkling 75.

Sherman and Thayer are among eight players tied for eighth place with their 4-over scores.

"I just started to make some birdies on the back," Sherman said of his 3-under 32 coming home. "It jump-started my back nine. Luckily I was able to turn it around."

Aurora Central Catholic senior Mac Cowen is one of several players at 76.

At the Class 3A tournament at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington, Geneva had its worst score of the season.

Four-time defending champion Hinsdale Central is the front-runner behind Illinois-bound senior Brendan O'Reilly, who fired a 69 to take the first-round lead for the Red Devils.

Hinsdale Central has a 7-shot cushion on New Trier after posting a 291.

The Vikings, who were led by sophomore sensation Tyler Isenhart, are in ninth place after a collective showing of 316.

"We just had a rough day," Geneva senior leader Andrew Abel said. "But we're not in that bad of shape. We can still get a trophy if we play well (on Saturday). We just have to play well."

Isenhart played his final stretch of holes in 2 - under to frame his team-best performance.

"I started playing better at the end of the round," Isenhart said. "I struggled with ball-striking and putting."

Nick Geen (80) and Casey Prentiss (81) were the other contributors for Geneva.

Among the local at-large entries, Cary-Grove senior Zach Beaugureau is in prime position for all-state status after becoming one of five players to fire a level-par round of 72.

Beaugureau is tied for fourth after his composite nines of 35 and 37.

"I drove the ball really well," Beaugureau said. "I had a lot of wedges in my hands."

"It's the best I have ever seen him play, bar none," C-G coach Chris Gotsch said.

West Aurora coach Jay Bauer has one final day to his career.

"I'm going to soak it all in," said Bauer. "It's such a great experience for Ryan (Vanderway) to play such a tough course."

The Blackhawks' sophomore scrambled on a regular basis in forging his score of 80.

"I was really fighting my swing," Vanderway said. "Eighty is not bad for the way I was hitting the ball."