Boys golf: Warren edges Libertyville to win NSC crown
Warren had plenty of practice this season. But it wasn’t just on the driving range or practice greens.
The Blue Devils had lost two dual meets this season when they were forced to go to the fifth score to decide the meet. So, when the North Suburban Conference meet at Thunderhawk Golf Club in Zion on Wednesday went to a fifth golfer to decide the meet between Warren and Libertyville, Warren was ready.
The Blue Devils were able to break the 307-307 tie with Libertyville thanks to both Cam Simmons and Jameson O’Neill each scoring a 79. One of those scores was used in Warren’s 307 total while the other was good enough to beat Libertyville’s fifth score which was an 81.
“We went to fifth golfers and lost the tiebreakers in meets this year with Mundelein and Stevenson,” said Warren coach David Zaban, who could not remember when or even if Warren had ever won the North Suburban tournament title.
“Guess the third time is the charm. It felt great today. I am super excited for them. We had a couple of guys who played lights out today.”
Rylan Lather led the Blue Devils with a 75, which was fourth overall. Evan Villarreal carded a 76, Adam Weihs a 77, followed by Simmons and O’Neill.
“It really clicked for everyone today,” said Lather, who had a 36 on the front and a 39 on the back.
“I know I played good. I had a lot of good wedge shots. We all have the talent and we knew we could do it.”
Libertyville coach Kevin Wall, whose team was second at the conference tourney last year, said his team was in the meet to the very end.
“Everyone really hung in there and battled to the end,” Wall said. “We have one of our deepest squads in years and they have proven it with the scores they have put out this year.”
The Wildcats’ Ryan Andrews scored a 73 to finish third. Quincy Adams had a 77, Cole Eiserman a 78 and Finn Sullivan a 79.
“The tiebreakers weren’t good for us today,” Andrews said. “Just those last two to three holes, I got some nerves and had to deal with it and it didn’t fall my way.”
Stevenson and Lake Forest were just one shot behind Warren and Libertyville with 308. Lake Forest won the tiebreaker when its fifth golfer shot an 80 to score better than Stevenson’s.
“We had just two players back, so you never know how the guys will respond,” Stevenson coach John Rueth said. “But the guys worked hard over the summer and as a coach that’s what you want to see. They get to see the result of the effort.”
Trenton Kurtz had the top score for the Patriots with a 73. That earned him second place, Andrew Chen had a 76, Carson Valeroso a 78 and Tyson Daube an 81.
“I had a solid round,” Kurtz said. “I had a couple of putts that I would like to have back. I was one-under through 14, but had a couple of bogeys back-to-back. But I made a nice 20-footer for par on 17 and rimmed a birdie on 18.”
Mundelein was fifth with a 333. The Mustangs were paced by Carson Koenigsknecht and Dylan Trahan’s 83.
Lake Zurich was sixth with a 368 and was led by Ryan Koester’s 85 and Erik Troutman ‘s 89.
Lake Forest’s Jack Lamberti was the medalist with a 72.