Callahan, Powers lead the way again

Benet junior John Callahan exacted a measure of redemption.

Callahan lost individual top honors at the Class 3A Naperville Central boys golf sectional last fall to Neuqua Valley ace Stephen Powers in a playoff.

The playing companions were back on center stage at the Vern McGonagle Naperville City Championship Wednesday afternoon at the Naperville Country Club.

The two were the only players to break 40 at the demanding layout played to the tips with unforgiving greens.

Callahan was awarded the grand prize on a scorecard playoff in the battle of matching 39s, but Powers' teammates were awarded the team title with a 164-170 victory over Benet.

Naperville North and Waubonsie Valley were tied for third with 176, and Naperville Central fired a collective 178.

"I played solid," Callahan said. "I couldn't get a feel for the greens. I wish it was a scorecard playoff (at the sectional)."

In the girls' tournament, Neuqua Valley, with three-time state qualifier Hannah Buck in her customary position of leading the team, eked out a razor-thin victory over Waubonsie Valley and Benet, who were a stroke off the Wildcats' 194 total.

Naperville Central and Naperville North were 2 and 4 shots, respectively, off the pace.

On the boys side, Kyle Geist and Matt Pell augmented Powers' second-place finish with a 40 and 41.

"They definitely want to think they're one of the better teams in the state," Neuqua Valley coach Spike Grosshuesch said. "Let's put it another way, in the area. I expected us to be good. We have five guys back from a conference-championship team."

Thomas O'Bryan had a 40 to pace Waubonsie Valley, while Ryan Whittingham and Joe Benda had 42s to lead Naperville Central and North.

Katharine Gausman is an accidental golfer, having switched to the sport after having her volleyball career derailed by injuries.

But the Naperville Central senior had the low round in the girls' event with a 41.

"I birdied the first hole and that really relaxed me," Gausman said. "My warm-ups were really bad, and I just tried to stay relaxed."

Buck had a 42 to lead the Wildcats' team sweep, a result the Neuqua Valley girls reacted with incredulity.

"When I told them we won, they were like, 'What tournament? Who? Us?'" Neuqua Valley coach John Keller said. "It's hard to adjust to a course that is this tough."

Marissa Miko and Elisa Paulluau had 44s for Naperville North; Kara Cooper paced Benet, and Cherise Mangal led Waubonsie Valley.