Boys golf: Northwest Class 3A preview
Boys golf
Class A state tournament preview
When: Today and Saturday
Site: The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course, Bloomington
Competing teams: St. Viator, St. Patrick, Homewood-Flossmoor, Lincoln-Way East, Barrington, Cary-Grove, Hinsdale Central, Bartlett, Quincy, Normal West.
Team outlook: Saturday could be all saints day in Bloomington as East Suburban Catholic Conference rivals St. Viator and St. Patrick are expected to make strong runs at the title trophy. St. Viator won its fourth straight ESCC championship this season and hasn't lost in an 18-hole tournament all year. Barrington is peaking now as evidenced by the Broncos' McHenry sectional championship while Pekin sectional winner Quincy and Naperville Central champ Hinsdale Central could be right there.
Individual outlook: St. Viator sophomore Joe Carlson rocked at the Hersey sectional, shooting 70 to win by 4 shots, while teammates and classmates Brad Klune and Danny Stringfellow (second-place medal at Hersey) will offer strong competition. The Cermak brothers, Michael and Patrick, lead St. Patrick as senior Michael posted a 68 to win the Niles West regional while freshman Patrick fired a 77 and teammate Kevin Lang shot 76. Senior Caleb Remington of Woodstock won the McHenry sectional with a 73, and watch out for Stephan Powers of Neuqua Valley, who won a playoff to triumph in the Naperville Central section. Barrington's Ross Frankenberg, the IJGA player of the year over the summer, has been shooting low all season while local individual qualifiers Ryan McCullough (Buffalo Grove), Dan Alsup (Rolling Meadows) and Sean Jones and Erik Peterson (Fremd) will look to make inroads toward the top of the leader board.
-- Bill Esbrook