Grayslake Central will rely on its experience

Two days. Two highly valuable golf lessons.

No PGA instructor.

By virtue of securing second place in the Wheaton North sectional at Pheasant Run last fall, Grayslake Central's boys earned a berth in the Class 2A state meet. It was the first time a Grayslake golf team had done that.

In downstate Normal, however, in the process of trying to bomb tee shots, the Rams bombed.

They shot a 336 on Day 1 and a 335 on Saturday, finishing with a 671 - last among 10 teams. That, after carding back-to-back 316s at regional and sectional.

What a lesson.

"Forty degrees and hail," Eric Hogenkamp, not making excuses, said when recalling the conditions at the state tournament at Illinois State's Weibring Golf Club.

"It didn't help."

Going into this season, what the Rams experienced in the 2009 postseason will definitely help. The senior Hogenkamp leads a team that boasts four players who teed it up at state last year. The four are Hogenkamp, who was the Rams' No. 2 last season, his classmate Nick Wysocki, and juniors Cody Stover and Colton Brunk.

"Our goal is to get back to state," Hogenkamp said. "Once we get back to state, we can definitely do better."

The key to getting back down?

"We got to play as a team and keep our heads," Brunk said. "We can't give up easy shots or make bad choices."

The Rams feature a slightly different look. Jim Mazzetta, a former collegiate wrestler whose dad was a golf pro, has replaced the likable Tony Bussone as head coach, and Hogenkamp has supplanted his good friend, the graduated Dylan Granquist, as the Rams' top player.

Hogenkamp opened the season last Tuesday by firing a 37 in leading Grayslake Central (167) to a season-opening win over Jacobs at Stonewall Orchard.

"I like it," Hogenkamp said of his new role. "I feel like I have to come in with a (good) number. I remember last year Dylan never came in with a bad score. He was a good leader."

Brunk, for one, thinks Hogenkamp is up for the challenge.

"He's going to be on the PGA Tour," Brunk said with a smile. "I'll caddie for him."