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Boys golf: Stevenson’s Kurtz birdies 1st playoff hole to win Jacobs sectional crown

Stevenson junior golfer Trenton Kurtz normally eats a burger at his favorite restaurant.

“Maybe I’ll order a double tonight,” he said at Monday’s Class 3A Jacobs boys golf sectional at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee.

The Patriot certainly deserved the extra beef after his singular effort on a golf course. Kurtz shot a 1-under 70 on a sunny, postcard-gorgeous day, earning medalist honors and a state berth after birdieing the lone playoff hole to break a tie with Deerfield senior Hunter Whitney.

Kurtz needed only 32 strokes to solve the back 9.

“I figured them out,” he said of the slick greens after his 4-birdie round.

Next up for the Stevenson ace is the Class 3A state meet at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington, but not until Oct. 18-19.

Prospect senior Cole Bielecki — 25th at state last fall — struck one of the sectional’s best shots, chipping in from 30 yards on the par-5 fifth hole for eagle to highlight his third-place round of 71.

“I didn’t see it,” Knights coach Jim Hamann said. “But we got the shot on video.”

The alert videographer was none other than Prospect athletic director Scott McDermott, who shared the footage electronically and typed “Eagle!” to accompany it.

Lake Forest captured the sectional team title with a 297 aggregate. Runner-up Libertyville (301) and third-place Barrington (305) secured the other two state team berths.

Reigning Mid-Suburban League champion Fremd finished an agonizing fourth (306), only 1 shot behind Barrington.

“We received some clutch birdies on the 18th,” Broncos coach Bryan Tucker said, referring to senior William Lange (77) and junior Kyle Bauernfreund (77) before adding Lange (20th at state last fall) also chipped in for a key birdie on the 16th.

Barrington senior Drew Schauenberg (76) might have made the meet’s most critical bogey — at the 18th. A double-bogey there would have meant the final state team berth would have to be decided via tiebreaker with Fremd.

“Drew knew what was at stake, and he was smart about it on the green,” Tucker said of last year’s Class 3A third-place finisher. “He didn’t take any chances, didn’t go for that great putt. Made bogey for the team. He’s selfless.

“I’m proud of what the kids did against a deep, talented field today. It’s such a luxury having golfers who play as well as our kids do.”

Junior and reigning Barrington regional medalist Sam Uutala paced Tucker’s crew with a 75.

Libertyville, meanwhile, made some program history Monday, qualifying for state for the first time since 1990, according to ihsa.org. Wildcats senior Quincy Adams led the way with a fourth-place 73, followed by classmates Parker Johnson (76), Alexander Centeno (76) and Ryan Andrews (76).

Andrews, Libertyville’s No. 1 golfer, was 7-over through five holes.

“I was worried,” Wildcats coach Kevin Wall admitted. “I told him, ‘You get to decide the story you’ll tell your teammates on the bus ride home.’”

A decisive Andrews authored a riveting 32 on the back nine.

“All of our golfers took it one shot at a time,” Wall said. “They stayed consistent and focused on the task at hand.

“It’s a special group.”

Fremd junior Rayden Tee (73), Palatine senior Kasey May (73), Hersey junior Owen Spokas (73) and Buffalo Grove junior Cori Lee (74) advanced to state as individuals.

Libertyville’s Finn Sullivan (79) and Cole Eiserman (82) and Barrington’s Ben Bundrant (83) and Charlie Blomquist (83) also toured Randall Oaks’ track Monday.

Vernon Hills junior Jake Levitan shot a team-low 76, matching the round turned in by Fremd’s No. 2 scorer, senior Nathan Delaney.

Lake Forest seniors Jack Lamberti and Brady Baker carded 73s for the sectional champion.

Lake Forest’s Jack Douglass watches his tee shot in the ninth hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Vernon Hill's Henrik Lundberg watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Hampshire’s Nolan Adamczyk watches his tee shot on the eighth hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Crystal Lake Central’s Jack Bice watches his tee shot in the seventh hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Crystal Lake Central’s Jack Bice watches his tee shot in the seventh hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Prospect’s Cole Bielecki watches his tee shot in the ninth hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Huntley’s Austin Matich watches his tee shot in the ninth hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Gurnee’s Cameron Simmons hits out of the sand trap on the seventh hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Hampshire’s Seth Gillie watches his tee shot on the eighth hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Hampshire’s Nolan Adamczyk hits out of the rough on the seventh hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Cary-Grove’s Joseph Boldt watches his tee shot on the eighth hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Libertyville’s Ryan Andrews watches his tee shot in the seventh hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Hersey’s Owen Spokas chips onto the sixth green during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
McHenry’s Dane Currie watches his tee shot in the seventh hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Woodstock Co-op’s Brady Yergons reacts to his tee shot on the sixth hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Jacobs’ Barrett Rennell watches his tee shot on the sixth hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Hononegah’s Rory Ruper watches his tee shot in the ninth hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Huntley’s Taig Bhathal watches his tee shot in the ninth hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Cary-Grove’s Connor Lentz watches his tee shot on the eighth hole during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Barrington’s Sam Uutala chips onto the sixth green during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
Dundee-Crown’s Kai Klancnik chips onto the sixth green during the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Sectional golf tournament on Monday, Oct. 7, 2024, at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee. Gregory Shaver
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