St. Viator on top in state tourney
Rain. Sleet. A biting wind, and 40-degree temperatures.
"It even hailed a little," said Prospect junior Jimi Poulos.
In other words, a typical mid-October day on the links in Bloomington.
In what has become par for the course the last few years at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Club, brutal weather stymied almost all of the golfers competing in Friday's first day of the Class 3A boys golf championship tournament.
Everyone, that is, except for Danny Stringfellow.
The St. Viator senior defied the awful conditions, taming Fox Creek by firing a 3-under par 69 to grab a 4-shot lead going in to today's final round.
Stringfellow's remarkable score might have been even better had he not stumbled a bit at the end, bogeying holes 17 and 18 after recording birdies on 5 of the first 16 holes.
"We really rode Danny today," said Lions coach Jack Halpin. "He's playing about as well as anyone can play right now."
"He's just playing at a higher level than anyone else," added Prospect coach Tom Martindale.
The senior's stellar round helped keep St. Viator's dream of three straight team championships alive. The Lions (308) hold a slight lead over Carmel (311) and and New Trier (312) going into the final 18 holes.
"If you would have told me (before the tourney started) that we'd be up 3 at the end of today, I would have been thrilled," said Halpin.
"Especially since we're not playing our best golf right now - not even close. I guarantee we're going to come out Saturday and have an excellent day."
St. Viator seniors Joe Carlson (79) and Joe Ferrari (80), and junior Ken Wienckowski (80) all contributed to the Lions' showing, while Poulos, among a trio of Prospect players competing as individuals, also fired an 80 in his first title tourney appearance.
"We started our rounds on the 10th hole," said Poulos, "so we had to play the toughest holes - five, six, seven and eight - as part of our back nine. It was brutal, but you've got to grind it out."
Prospect's Derek Leeney carded an 81 while teammate Matt Maloney finished at 85.
Lake Forest (316) and Providence (318) are in fourth and fifth place respectively in the team race, while Mills Rendell of New Trier (73) is second behind Stringfellow, followed by Tom Laudadio of St. Charles East, Lake Forest's Charlie Marshall, Theo Lederhausen from Hinsdale Central and Deerfield's Benet Lavin, each of whom carded a 75.
A 78 from Sean Jones of Fremd put the senior tied for 14th position overall while Wheeling's Jack Ferguson shot 79 to tie for 21st.
But today, all eyes will be on Stringfellow and St. Viator, attempting to become the first team to three-peat at the Illinois state golf championships since Rockford East won 4 straight 64 years ago.
"I like our chances," said Halpin. "We've been in this position before, so I feel like the pressure's on the other guys. Our seniors know this is their last chance, and I think if they go out there, have fun, and enjoy themselves, we'll be fine."