Boys golf: Batavia's Newkirk takes 2nd at sectionals
Gavin Newkirk says he loves playoff hole opportunities.
"There's no pressure for me," said Newkirk, a Batavia junior, following the Class 3A Glenbard West boys golf sectional at Village Links on Monday. "Once I know I'm going to state, I'm just having fun out there."
After coming in from the standard 18 holes, Newkirk was tied for the low round of 70 with Hinsdale Central's Emil Riegger, prompting the playoff. After both pared No. 17, it was Riegger emerging with the ultimate victory with par on the par-4 18th.
Newkirk is still headed to the IHSA state tournament as an individual next weekend. It will serve as his first official trip down to Bloomington, although if there would have been a state tournament held in 2020, he would've made it then.
Newkirk is Batavia's first state qualifier since 2014 when Andrew Nelson represented the program.
"Just extremely proud of him," Batavia coach Tim DeBruycker said. "I'm glad that he performed today the way that I knew he could. I knew with the pressure and the length and the course and things like that, he really thrives after that."
"He said he wanted to be in a playoff. He's that kind of kid; he wants to compete at that high level," DeBruycker said.
Newkirk, not surprisingly, was "really excited" to qualify.
"I love the course and it's going to be really fun time," Newkirk said.
Glenbard West, Hinsdale Central and Neuqua Valley all will go to state as teams. Geneva's streak of qualifying for state for six straight seasons - including 2020 - ended Monday.
Geneva junior Austin Frick, though, qualified as an individual by shooting a 79.
Frick had to nervously wait awhile after his round to see how the rest of the field shook out and what the cut - 80 - ended up being.
"I was kind of upset at first [following my round]," Frick said. "I didn't finish well. I finished bogey-bogey and I knew I left a couple shots out there. I [thought] I didn't want a playoff. I'm already kind of anxious. I was anxious."
Frick can now breathe comfortably.
"I've been for sure working on it the last year for this moment," Frick said. "It doesn't really feel real yet. I'm kind of excited, [it's my] first time [going]. Don't know what to expect."
St. Charles North standout Mason Siegfried tied for fourth with a 78 to ensure his first trip to state as an individual.
"It's honestly a huge sigh of relief," Siegfried said. "I've worked so hard for this. During the summer, practicing every day and practicing with the guys. I'm just happy I made it."