Boys golf: Waubonsie Valley sails to title; Metea Valley, WW South also advance
Will Troy was running out of holes at Blackberry Oaks on Tuesday afternoon.
The Waubonsie Valley junior was looking to continue his mastery of 18-hole boys golf tournaments at the Class 3A West Aurora regional.
Troy had already captured the Naperville and Aurora city tournaments this fall and was in quest of a sixth major title.
The Warriors' top player rifled a 6-iron from 195 yards away to 5 feet in making an eagle at the 16th hole.
But Troy would have to settle for a 1-over-par 73 after an errant tee shot on his final hole derailed his medalist hopes.
The score Troy fashioned for Waubonsie Valley, though, was even more critical in the Warriors' 303-316 victory over Metea Valley for the team championship.
Wheaton Warrenville South snared the final team slot to the South Elgin sectional on Monday at Bartlett Hills as fifth-scorer Tyler Kuta's 82 broke a third-place tie with Marmion after the schools tied at 318 in regulation.
"It's more important our team made it out," Troy said. "I am more happy with our team getting a win than me as an individual. We have a lot of talent on our team. We have five good scores, every match, every round."
The Warriors went undefeated in league play in winning the DuPage Valley Conference championship - yet another Troy win - while also adding city titles from the two communities their students represent.
"Will, who has been our No. 1 player all year, has been coming through," Waubonsie Valley coach Eric Flodberg said. "But the great thing is that our other players are playing strong right now. That's a good problem to have. We are at our peak and are going to continue to keep climbing."
Troy finished in a second-place tie with West Aurora two-time state qualifier Ryan Vanderway with his 73; West Aurora junior Zac Uhm had the sole under-par round, a 71, to win medalist honors.
Waubonsie Valley junior Jacob Fritz played his outward nine in level-par 36 en route to a 75.
"It was a lot of hitting greens in regulation, a lot of 2-putts," Fritz said of his front-side round. "It was pretty routine. I have always liked Blackberry. I have played it a lot."
Eliot Villeneuve and Carter Wright completed the Warriors' 13-shot win over Metea Valley with rounds of 76 and 79.
Metea Valley senior Scott Boyajian, a returning state qualifier, advanced to a fourth consecutive sectional with his team-best 75.
Arjun Vyas' 79 was the Mustangs' second-best score.
"Going as a team makes you more comfortable," Boyajian said. "(Blackberry) is not a course I have been able to get comfortable to a lot, but it's definitely something I know."
Cam Polezoes' 77 was the benchmark for WW South.
"I am really proud of our guys for staying in it mentally," WW South coach Jimmy Selleck said. "We came back on the back nine and finished better, which was enough to advance."
Marmion could not reclaim the formula of its final year in Class 2A during an eventual runner-up season.
"Two years ago, we got to state on a fifth-card playoff," Marmion coach Russ Huggins said. "I guess we know both sides. Everybody thinks it was them who let the team down. That's golf. In reality, they played really well."
The individual cut fell at 85 as the Cadets had consolation qualifiers from their top-four players: Peter Thayer, Jack Barnhart, Austen Velazquez and Will Barnhart.
Host West Aurora had unquestionably the best 1-2 punch in the field behind Uhm and Vanderway. But the Blackhawks had to settle for a sixth-place score of 338.
Uhm became the first West Aurora individual regional champion in 10 years behind a surefire method.
"I birdied all the par 3s except for the fourth hole," Uhm said of putting three deuces on his card. "That will definitely get your score lower. I played a practice round here (last) Wednesday, so I figured I had a chance. My short game was really good today. The greens were slower today. It was easy to drill it into the back of the cup."
Vanderway is one step closer to becoming a three-time state qualifier after a parade of pars steadied his round.
"After (Nos.) 1 and 2, I parred all the way through 13," Vanderway said of his run after an early birdie and bogey. "I didn't hit the ball that well, but it ended up working out. I just played like I had a nice plan."