Hinsdale Central, Bartlett lead the way

Any suspense regarding the team champion at the Class 3A Naperville Central boys golf sectional dissipated quickly.

"I thought it was a college team we were playing against," said Bartlett coach Tommy Boyle.

Hinsdale Central made the turn at Naperbrook Golf Course in Plainfield on Monday afternoon in a collective 1-under-par 143, which meant eight teams were essentially vying for the last slot to Bloomington this weekend.

Two years after missing the state cut by a mere shot, Bartlett rode three sub-80 rounds to earn its first trip to the state finals in school history with a 311.

Hinsdale Central, with five of its six players at 78 or better, including a trio of 74s, stormed to the overall title with a magical 298.

It was the Devils' sixth tournament championship of the season.

"We knew when we made the turn that we would be shooting for second," said Boyle.

But it was a runner-up status the Hawks would gladly accept, however, as Nick Quagliano and Trace Pomplun, veterans of the failed effort from two seasons ago, led the way with respective rounds of 75 and 76.

"It's the first time in Bartlett High School history," said Quagliano. "Hinsdale is in a league of their own. (The 2005 sectional) was a choke for that year for all of us."

Sophomore Anthony Burdi fired a 78 for the Bartlett, and its inclusion to the 10-team state finals at the Den at Fox Creek was secure when Ryan Oberg turned in an 82.

"Stunning," said Boyle. "It's been a little bit overwhelming for me today. As a team, we have always preached that everybody on the team has to count."

Larkin was making its first team appearance at the sectional in six years, and the Royals collectively struggled -- with one notable exception.

Michael Sainz, whose older brother Carlos was the last individual state qualifier for Larkin, finishing fourth in the Class AA tournament in 2003, posted a level-par, inward-nine 36 to finish in a four-way tie for fourth at 74.

"(The round) started off well, and I was making some good putts," said Sainz. "The back nine could have been even better. I missed about four good chances for birdie. I knew it was a slim chance (to qualify as a team), but there probably wasn't as much pressure as last year -- I wasn't alone."

Larkin finished at 333 for a ninth-place overall team result.

Benet was on the outside looking in after finishing with a 315, 4 strokes behind Barltett.

"The opportunity to advance as a team was out there," said Benet coach Dan Nagis. "It just escaped us."

The Redwings' day was not a complete loss, however, as sophomore John Callahan blistered the back nine with a 34 to earn a sudden-death playoff against Neuqua Valley sophomore Stephen Powers.

The two were tied after regulation with 1-under rounds of 71, and Powers' 5-foot birdie putt on the third playoff hole brought him the major individual prize.

"I wasn't really thinking about winning this," said Powers. "I just wanted to qualify. I didn't put any stress on myself. It was a fun round."

Callahan and Will Feldman (75) earned two of the nine at-large berths for Benet.

"Disappointed team-wise, but ecstatic for the two individuals," said Nagis. "It's fun to take a couple of kids down."

Wheaton North senior Travis Otto overcame a devastating knee injury, making the cut line on the number at 75 to earn a trip.

"My driving (was the key)," said Otto, who had a waiver to ride in a cart. "I don't think I could walk otherwise (without the cart)."

Downers Grove South senior Russell Katz became a three-time state qualifier with his 75, but it was Hinsdale Central with the crowning achievement of the summer-like day.

"You can always breathe easier when they make the turn in 1-under," said Hinsdale Central coach Jess Krueger. "You can't ask for more than that."

Theo Lederhausen, Sean Marquardt, and Jon Lewis all had 2-over 74 rounds for the Devils, and Brett Tomfohrde fired a 76.

Paul Asheim led fourth-place Waubonsie Valley with a 77.

Downers Grove South was fifth; Hinsdale South finished seventh in its first sectional appearance since 1996.

For St. Charles East and Batavia, advancement to the sectional for a second consecutive year offered new opportunities.

But the Saints' Chris Niemiec was the lone member of either squad to make the individual cut.

Niemiec came home with an even-par 36 to make the cut on the number.

"It was kind of an up-and-down round," said Niemiec. "I knew we could have done it (advance as a team). I would feel better if the team was going (to state)."

The Saints were sixth as a team, firing a collective 321 behind Niemiec, Tyler Deetjen (80) and the twin 83s from Colin Cordes and Brett Weiss.

"Give Bartlett credit, they played well," said St. Charles East coach John Stock. "Bartlett had three scores under 80, and we had one --that was the difference."

Batavia was one slot behind the Saints, finishing seventh with a 328 total.

Tim Swanson led the Bulldogs with a 79, and James Henkelman (81), Shawn Steurer (84) and Collin Huber (84) followed behind.

West Aurora junior Kurtis Luedtke had a putt go all 360 degrees around the cup before dropping on the 18th for birdie to secure his spot in Bloomington with a 75.

It was the Blackhawks' first state qualifier since Justin Ahasic in 1998.

Brandon Vicory needed a birdie to join his teammate, but his birdie effort on 18 from 10 feet fell on the low side, costing the Geneva regional champion a berth at state.

Greg Wiitanen had a heroic inward-nine 34, only to join Vicory as falling a shot short with a 76.

"I can't complain about shooting a 34 on the back nine," said Wiitanen.