St. Viator: Classy champions, again
Prior to the start of this year's prep golf season, the St. Viator players, parents, administration and coach Jack Halpin were faced with a difficult decision.
Due to enrollment issues, the IHSA wanted to reclassify Viator from Class 3A to 2A in the three-tier high school golf class system. The Lions decided to petition the governing body to stay in 3A, where they'd already won two straight state championships.
"We asked the players and their families what they wanted to do," said Halpin, "and they were unanimous in wanting to go for three in a row at the highest level."
St. Viator's classification wish was granted. And Saturday at Fox Run Golf Course in Bloomington, the Lions' other wish came true.
St. Viator held off late challenges from New Trier, Lake Forest and Carmel to win its third consecutive Class 3A state crown.
"I guess that decision (to stay in 3A) was pretty smart," laughed Halpin as the Lions celebrated the historic win. "If we hadn't won, I'd look pretty stupid right now."
Viator's two-day score of 611 was 8 strokes better than the runner-up Trevians, and for the second consecutive year, the Lions boasted the individual tournament medalist.
Senior Danny Stringfellow (even-par 144 for the tourney) struggled on the back 9 Saturday after shooting a spectacular 3-under Friday but rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on 18 at The Den to clinch the win.
"This feels amazing," said Stringfellow, who became the first Illinois prep golfer to finish in the top 10 at the state tournament all four years. "I can't even put it into words."
Stringfellow led by 3 strokes after Day 1 but said he knew the individual race would be "a lot closer" on Day 2.
"I was just chomping away on the back nine today," said Stringfellow. "I knew I was struggling a little, but decided I wasn't going to think about my individual performance. I was more concerned about the team."
St. Viator senior Joe Carlson, who won medalist honors last year, rebounded from what he felt was a poor performance on Friday to fire a 73 and lead the Lions to the first three-peat since Rockford East accomplished the feat with 4 straight titles in 1941 through '45.
"I didn't play well (Friday)," said Carlson, "so I wanted to come out today and do my best. About the third hole I figured out something with my swing and started to play better."
Bennett Lavin of Deerfield was second individually, 2 shots behind Stringfellow, while Jack Watson (147) of Carmel, who led a Corsairs charge that saw them creep within 1 shot of Viator midway-through, was third.
Fremd senior Sean Jones, who had finished eighth the last two years, completed his remarkable comeback from a mid-season injury to shoot 151 and tie Hinsdale Central's Theo Lederhausen for fourth place.
Carlson's two-day score of 152 put him sixth overall; junior Kenny Wienckowski carded a 76 Saturday to make a big contribution to the St. Viator cause, while senior Joe Ferrari, who Halpin called "the hero of the day," scored with a 79.
"Lately, my game has been really solid all the way around," said Ferrari. "For us to win this, our third in a row, with all the seniors pulling together, will be a great memory."
Stringfellow couldn't agree more.
"I didn't think there was any pressure on us at all," said Stringfellow. "We knew it was our last year, and we wanted to go out there and have fun, and I think we did."