St. Viator, Barrington win golf titles

Because of the IHSA's expansion of boys golf from two to three classes this season, there were fewer teams competing in each area regional.

While the class increase may have changed the quantity of teams, it certainly hasn't affected the stellar quality of play.

Tuesday at Buffalo Grove Golf Course, St. Viator, led by sophomore medalist Danny Stringfellow's even-par 72, won the BG Class 3A regional over 10 local adversaries with an impressive score of 293.

Rolling Meadows (310) and Fremd (311) also advanced to next Tuesday's Hersey sectional at Old Orchard Country Club.

Sophomore Joe Carlson (73) and seniors Mike Ferrari (74) and Matt Crandall (74) all contributed to the Lions winning effort.

"These guys are so good," Viator coach Jack Halpin said of his team. "You'd love to have scores of 78 or so here, but they'd be upset by that -- their expectations are so high.

"I'm especially thrilled for our seniors (Ferrari and Crandall). Any other year, they'd be No. 1 players."

Rolling Meadows junior Kevin Markowski, having a self-described "off-year", rose to the occasion by firing a 75 to lead the suddenly hot Mustangs.

"That's an unbelievable score," said Meadows coach Todd Schaap of Markowski's effort.

"I made a lot of putts today," Markowski said, "and every shot was to the center of the green -- no out of bounds."

Erik Peterson was best for Fremd with 75 while Kevin Prest carded a 78.

"Erik and Sean (Jones) have been shooting good scores all year," said Vikings junior Kyle Bahnick, who with teammate Brian Garfinkel carded 79s to help the cause. "Sean struggled a little today, but being part of a team means picking up your teammates and stepping up to the challenge -- and Kevin Prest did that today.

"He's been shooting low and high, but he really stepped up."

Brad Klune fired a 78 for Viator, while Steve Benko (77), Scott Flubacker (79) and Dan Alsup (79) all helped the Mustangs move on.

Ryan McCullough of Buffalo Grove (76) led the parade of golfers from non-advancing teams to move on to sectionals as individual qualifiers.

Others players advancing include Brett Meihls (78) of Hoffman Estates, John McIlree (79), Jimmy Morrow (79) and Dan Parks (80) of Hersey, and Garrett Eddy (80) from Streamwood.

Ryan Ferris and Josh Cho of Palatine each shot 79 to punch their ticket to Old Orchard, while Conant senior Tom Mahr also fired a 79 to earn his first sectional appearance.

"I actually expected to shoot lower," said Mahr, who improved by 9 strokes over last year's regional score, "but I'm happy because I was hoping to go to sectionals.

"I had it in my mind not to blow up. I usually do that on a couple of holes and it costs me, but I put that in the past and took today's round hole by hole."

Prairie Ridge regional: Last Thursday Cary-Grove senior Brian Colbert took a 1-shot lead to the 17th hole at Oak Grove and finished birdie-birdie to win the Fox Valley Conference title with a par score of 71.

Tuesday at the Class 3A Prairie Ridge regional tournament held at Prairie Isle Golf Course in Crystal Lake, Colbert again was unflappable with a tournament title on the line.

Colbert and playing partner Ross Frankenberg of Barrington were even through 17 holes. A junior, Frankenberg is to stranger to championship competition either. He won a Class AA regional title last season in a three-way playoff.

Both players crushed their drives from the blue tees of the closing par-5, a 511-yard dogleg right. Both subsequently hit 3-woods from the fairway. Frankenberg's second shot found the rough just short of the greenside bunker to the right; Colbert stayed in the fairway.

While Frankenberg looked for his ball, Colbert chipped to within 3 feet of the cup. Frankenberg landed his approach within 8 feet of the hole, but his putt to the low side of the cup lipped out, leaving him with a final score of par 72 for the day.

"It was close all the way to the end, which is what you want," said Frankenberg. "(Colbert) had a really strong back nine and I didn't follow that up. I just had too many little putts that cost me."

Colbert tapped in his 3-footer to complete a 1-under-par round of 71 and clinch his first regional title.

"I've said all year really that if I won conference and didn't make it to state, it would be a failure for me, so this is a step in the right direction," said Colbert, a senior. "We're just one tournament away and we get to go back to Oak Grove and play again (in next Monday's McHenry sectional)."

Barrington, however, won the team title, giving the Broncos their third straight regional plaque.

Frankenberg's 72 was supported by Ryan Quinn's 76, Jason Batliner's 79 and scores of 80 from Charlie Douglas and freshman Sam McNulty.

"We all know the potential we have and when we all play well it seems to click," Quinn said. "It's been a fun season so far. The reason we click so well is we have a great coach and great teammates and we're all great friends."

The Broncos, state qualifiers last season, defended their Mid-Suburban League title last Monday and continued rolling at the regional with a combined score of 308, their lowest of the season.

"We're playing our best golf of the season right now," said Barrington coach Mike Kallenbach. "We were definitely looking for the three-peat today."

-- Bill Esbrook