Klune, St. Viator star at Wheeling
What a difference a week makes.
Last weekend Chevy Chase Country Club, like so many other local businesses and homes, was flooded by the unrelenting storms and was completely unplayable.
It stayed that way for a week and just opened again Saturday morning in time for the Wheeling Invitational - and if you didn't know, you'd swear nary a drop of rain had fallen.
Turns out the Chevy Chase grounds crew did a yeoman's job getting the course ready to play.
"I'm surprised it drained so well," said Wheaton-Warrenville South senior Steve Skurla, "but it was in great shape since no one had played it all week."
"The greens were pristine," said Libertyville's Brett Coburn.
Both Skurla (73, seventh place individually) and Coburn (73, sixth) medaled, but as has so often been the case lately both the team trophy and invidiual medalist honors came down to a battle between St. Viator and Barrington.
Brad Klune and Matt Vitale of the Lions shot 1-under par 71s, as did Ross Frankenberg of Barrington - with Klune being crowned medalist on a tiebreaker.
In the team race, Viator's Danny Stringfellow carded a 72 and Joey Carlson a 79 as the defending state champion Lions bested the Broncos 293-301 to win the tourney.
Wheaton-Warrenville South scored a 302 to take third place in the 26-team invitational as the golfers played a shotgun start on a bright, sunny late summer morning.
"This is the best shape I've ever seen this course in," said Klune, whose consistent round of 35-36 included 3 birdies.
"My short game has shown a great improvement this year. I'm chipping it close and making more putts."
Frankenberg, who just missed out on the state individual medalist title last year en route to a runner-up finish, was assisted Saturday by the Broncos' James Ross (75), Nick Schiavi (76), Travis Smyczynski (79) and Jason Batliner (79).
Hersey's Jimmy Morro shot 74 and was ninth in the final individual standings.
"It's been an up-and-down season," said Hersey senior Johannes Seemann, who also carded a 74.
Hersey's John McIlree added a round of 76 as the Huskies, who are tied for the Mid-Suburban League lead with Barrington at 8-1, finished sixth.
Libertvyille finished at 308, with Kurt Kapfer (74) and Rocky Hudson (75) helping lead the charge.
Brett Weiss and Jordan Wetsch each shot 79 for eighth-place St. Charles East. Tory Wiedeniller shot 79 for ninth-place Stevenson.
Dan Alsup shot a sparkling 74 for Rolling Meadows; Jim Poulos fired 76 for Prospect; Addison Trail's Jimmy Jaskoske carded a 77; Lyeden's Kurtis Dower finished at 78; and Ryan Suhadolnik fired a 79 to led Buffalo Grove.