Led by medalist Johnny Creamean, New Trier wins 3A boys golf championship
Like New Trier boys golf coach Pete Drevline said, it had to have been a great dinner at the Creamean household last weekend.
Johnny Creamean, a junior, earned medalist honors at the Class 3A state finals, and his brother, Alex, a senior, finished in a tie for seventh.
Along with Trevians seniors Tyler Greenspahn and Will Leber and juniors Noah Zyung and Oliver Barr, they gave New Trier its seventh state boys golf title and first since 2003.
"I'm just so happy for the guys, and this win also goes for all the guys who were so close the last 20 years and didn't get a chance to win. This is really exciting for the whole program," said Drevline, New Trier's 13-year head coach.
Guys like Charlie Creamean of the Class of 2021. Now golfing at Georgetown, Alex and Johnny's brother finished ninth in 2019.
After shooting a 1-under-par 71 on Friday at The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington to tie Alex in second place after one round, Johnny Creamean finished at 146 to become New Trier's first medalist since Jack Junge in 2012.
"It feels great," Creamean said.
"That was a goal that I had for 2022. It feels great to check it off the list. I mean, it's a great feeling. It's definitely a memory I'll have for the rest of my life," he said.
Drevline pinpointed Creamean's birdie at No. 13 on Saturday that held off Hinsdale Central, the eventual runner-up with a total score of 605 to New Trier's 603. The Trevians were 6 strokes up on defending 3A champion Glenbrook North, third at 609.
"Just good ball striking," Drevline said. "He was a smart player out there the whole weekend. He attacked when he needed to and then respected the course when the pins were in tough spots."
New Trier's fourth state medalist, Creamean recalled another birdie on 16 in which he drained a 30-foot putt that broke left some 2 feet.
"I would say that was one of the more crucial holes," he said. "It just gave me a lot of confidence going into the final couple of holes."
It was cold on Saturday, but the course played firm.
"It was a great feeling going into the second day being tied with my brother, and with the team being in a very good spot for the state title," Johnny Creamean said.
"It's great to win both (team and individual titles), especially at the same time. It was also very special to be part of the team that gets my head coach his first state championship. It was great to see him so excited," he said.
There was much to be excited about last weekend for North Shore golfers.
Glenbrook North seniors Jason Gordon and Robby O'Regan finished in a tie for 10th at 149, both finishing stronger Saturday than they started Friday.
Glenbrook South juniors Connor O'Hara and Nick Ventura joined three other golfers in a tie for 22nd place, and senior Chase Blanchard (27th) helped push the Titans into a tie with Lake Forest for fourth in the team race.
Loyola senior and individual qualifier Ryan Banas tied for 13th at 150.
As Glenbrook North girls coach Mike Schroeder had speculated after sectionals, Hinsdale Central proved the team to beat for the 2A title at Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur.
The Red Devils won the title at an even 600 strokes, ahead of Stevenson (608) and the Spartans, who earned their first girls golf state trophy with a third-place total of 609.
Glenbrook North freshman Martha Kuwahara and sophomore Kacie Moon tied for eighth individually at 147 for the two days. Another Spartans sophomore, Alexis Myers, tied for 33rd.
Glenbrook South senior Effie Perakis finished fourth individually at 144. Her 71 on Saturday was among the top four scores on the tournament's second day.
After scoring birdies on Nos. 4, 6 and 13 on Friday en route to a 1-over 73 on Friday, Perakis on Saturday carded birdies on four different holes, finishing her prep career with a birdie 3 on No. 18.
New Trier placed sixth in the team standings, led by senior Amy Beanblossom's fifth-place score of 145. Though Loyola didn't make the final eight teams vying for a title on Saturday, Ramblers junior Katie Magnier tied for 18th at 150.
Edwardsville senior Nicole Johnson was the 2A girls state champion with a two-day score of 138.
"I think one of best feelings is to wake up knowing you're a state champion. No one can take that title away from you," said Drevline, who can relate.