Boys golf: WW South dominates DuKane meet, Geneva 2nd

Things could not have gone much better for the Wheaton Warrenville South boys golf team during Tuesday's DuKane Conference Meet at Bartlett Hills.

The Tigers dominated the links to capture the team title, had five golfers earn all-conference accolades and got to cheer on teammates Ben Klimenko and Jason Prince as they fought for medalist honors in a playoff.

All in all, it was a fantastic day to be a Tiger.

"It was a big confidence booster for the whole team," Klimenko said. "We're really looking forward to going to state this year so we're going to keep chugging along and see how things roll out."

Klimenko may have earned medalist honors this time, but it wasn't the first time nor will it be the last that the two battle each other on the golf course. It was the first time they found themselves in a playoff facing each other. Both carded 1-over-72s.

"We actually have competitions with each other with chipping and putting and at the range and on the course, so this definitely isn't uncommon for us," Prince said. "I kind of wish we made a side bet. I know our teammates were doing bets while watching. It was a lot fun for us."

Their teammates were darned good as well with Dhilan Desai taking fourth place outright with a 4-over 75 and Thomas Foley and Aidan McCoyd tying for ninth place with 79s.

"Dhilan played really well and I know our No. 7 and No. 8 (Foley and McCoyd) played very well out there," Klimenko said. "It was nice to see those two come in low. All around we all played well. Our highest score was 83, which was good to see. Anyone, one through eight, can score in the 70s which is really huge for us."

Geneva was the distant runner-up with a 315, but good enough to hold off third place Lake Park's 322.

Zach Padgett led the Vikings with a 3-over 74 while Cal McKittrick also had a strong performance, tying for fifth place with Batavia senior Ari Fragen with a 5-over 76.

While Padgett would have loved to see the Vikings crowned conference champs, he tipped his cap to the Tigers and is turning his attention to the postseason now.

"I think we've definitely got some potential, and if we put up some good scores we can go far in the playoffs for sure," Padgett said. "I think we're in a good spot overall."

Heavy rains over the weekend may have made the course soft, but it didn't hurt Padgett's game.

"The course was pretty good for the most part," he said. "Some portions were wet, but I thought they were pretty fine throughout and they didn't affect me."

Lake Park's Will Edgecombe and Mike Breslin led the Lancers with each carding 79 to tie for ninth place. Freshman John Lehner added an 81 in his first varsity match and Matt Lesniak scored an 83.

"During the year we only had single win against all our conference opponents so today was the culmination of the kids' hard work," Lancers coach Dan Batka said. "We were able to leapfrog a lot of the field."

All season long Batka has been telling his kids it's a process and that it's all about getting better as the season advances into October and the state series.

"My conversation with the kids was it's not how we start the season but if we can peak at the right time," he said. "Hat's off to the kids who came out and competed today."

St. Charles East was only a few strokes short of catching the Lancers for third place, but had to settle for fourth with a 325.

Batavia took fifth place with a 330 behind Ari Fragen's 76 and Jeff Zofkie's 78.

"Can't expect too much different to happen," Fragen said. "It's been pretty much like this all year with the team. But I don't let it bother me. Being senior season it's still important to me and I look forward to growing and I had some positives and know what I need to do."

Alex Lilly carded a 78 to pace sixth place St. Charles North.

Sam Gerry had an 82 for seventh place Wheaton North and Cooper Denault led Glenbard North with a 91.