Bubenicek paces Downers South; BC's Weber makes a splash

A year ago, Mike Bubenicek was a junior trying to scratch the starting lineup at Downers Grove South.

A year later and Bubenicek finished the 2010 Larkin Golf Invitational with a 72 to pace the Mustangs, who finished first in the 25-team field.

"As a team we did well - we're a very solid team," said Bubenicek, who finished last year as a state qualifier and team MVP.

South also counted scores from Anthony Margentina (74), Connor Harmon (75) and Matt Korienek (76), with Bret Balestri (77) and Colin Flynn (79) also shooting sub-80 at the par-72 Highlands of Elgin Golf Course. The Mustangs' 297 team score was also the first sub-300 score South has shot during the 10-year coaching tenure of Jay Baum.

"We have four returning players and two new guys," said Baum. "We knew we were going to have four good scores. (Margentina) shot a 74 and he wasn't in our lineup last year."

Where South went with a mix of experience and fresh faces to win the team title, the freshest face of the field took home individual honors.

Burlington Central freshman Matt Weber finished with a 1-under 71 to post the lowest score. Weber relied on his driver to get good position and stay out of the long grass.

"I hit every fairway," he said. "When I got out there I was confident. (My game) has really been coming along well."

Weber held off Bubenicek, Bartlett's Ryan Wolfe, South Elgin's Xavier Owens, Geneva's Anthony Cisco and St. Edward's Eric Winters, who all finished at even par.

"I didn't lose, I got beat," said Owens, who credited solid putting for his second-place finish. "I hit 3 birdies, 2 on a par 5 (holes 2 and 14) and 1 on a par 3 (hole 15)."

Wolfe's par helped the Hawks (308) to a fifth-place finish. Wolfe felt he shot well overall, but said a double bogey on a par-5 hurt his score. But he was happy with the way he was able to rebound.

"I finished with 3 birdies in a row," Wolfe said. "I started hitting fairways."

Oak-Park River Forest (306) took second, with Geneva (307) narrowly edging Marmion (308) for third. Burlington Central (309) was sixth.

"This is a pretty solid start," Geneva coach Bill Kohen said. "They hit a lot of greens, which helps with everything."

Kohen singled out Cisco, who tagged 15 fairways in his round. The Vikings also counted scores from Bill Gregory (77) and a pair of 79s from Adam Milano and Collin Lilliebridge.

Marmion also counted all sub-80 scores with Matt Fazio leading the way with a 74. Zach Woytych (76), Evan Kline-Wedeen (79) and Taylor Kanute (79) all contributed to the team score.

"I think the guys had the potential to go lower," Cadets coach Doug Roberts said. "I'm happy for the first tournament of the year."

Wheaton Warrenville South got a 74 from Tee-K Kelly and a 75 from Jason Plepel to finish ninth with a 315.

"It was good first day for us, I was more concerned with our energy and we did pretty well in that area," Tigers coach James Selleck said. "We have two guys leading us and we're really expecting a lot."