Golf: Burlington Central, Wheaton Academy boys win sectionals; Benet girls headed to state
Senior Matthew Zierk fired a four-under 68 at the Elgin Country Club on Monday, leading Burlington Central’s boys golf team to a Class 3A sectional championship.
The host Rockets also got counting scores from Tommy Wyse (74), Colin Gritzman (81) and their sixth man Brock Wilbrandt (85) to post a 308, just two shots ahead of Geneva and three better than Lake Park, the third team to advance to this weekend’s state tournament at The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington.
Zierk earned his sectional championship by dominating the par fives, recording a birdie on all four of them. He also birdied No. 5 to offset his only bogey on the par three 16th and finish four shots better than any other golfer in the field.
Sloan Voytek from Lake Park finished second at even par 72. The Lancers needed every shot from Voytek for their 311 total, just one shot better than fourth place finishers Jacobs and St. Charles North. Like Zierk, Voytek also birdied all the par fives.
Griffin Michalak (74), Richard Ridgeway (78) and Evan Hojnacki (82) also scored for the Lancers.
Runner-up Geneva is headed to state after getting its four scores from Blake Makowski (75), Jake Schram (77), Will Quisling (78) and Noah Kettlewell and Tyler Pascoli, both at 80.
Barrington took sixth at 314 followed by Crystal Lake Central (316), Glenbard West (318) and Lake Zurich (329).
At Sycamore: Wheaton Academy continued its dominance in 2A by posting a three-under 277 team total at Kishwaukee Country Club to win the sectional title after shooting a 270 last week at regionals. The Warriors will be a favorite at the state tournament this weekend at Weibring Golf Club in Normal.
On Monday, Wheaton Academy was 41 shots better than runner-up Sycamore. Kaneland also qualified for state at 319.
Warriors senior Owen Coniaris won the individual sectional title at 65, five-under, a round that started with a one-under 34 on the front before he birdied four holes and shot 31 on the back.
Teammates Luke Patel and Nick Ratini were second at 70 and Ben Patel fourth at 72.
At Lincoln-Way Central: Benet fired a 284 at Ravisloe Country Club to win a 3A sectional crown, just ahead of Hinsdale Central’s 287.
All six Redwings shot 76 or better with Mac Rice (70), William Comiskey (70), Jack Quil (72) and Carter Bird (72) posting the counting scores.
Eli Havens and Michael Jorski led Hinsdale Central with 70s.
Girls golf
At Sandburg: Hinsdale Central’s 317 and Benet’s 321 were good for second and third place behind sectional champion Lincoln-Way East on Monday at Silver Lake Country Club.
The second- and third-place finishes send the Red Devils and Redwings to state, while Metea Valley (324) finished just short in fourth.
Mustangs freshman Gigi Sereenen did fire a two-over 75 to finish seventh and earn an individual spot at state along with Waubonsie Valley’s Mina Shyam who shot a 69 to take second overall. Metea Valley’s Oyuhai Sereenen and Maya Shah shot 80s to qualify.
Amelia Gambla (73) and Sara Han (75) lead Hinsdale Central while Lauren Gauss (76), Kate Lewis (80) and Madelyn Maldonado (81) paced Benet.