WW South takes top prize at Batavia
The Batavia Invitational has historically been a measuring stick for the conclusion of the first half of the boys golf season.
Wheaton Warrenville South golfers Jason Plepel and Tee-K Kelly combined to shoot level par Saturday afternoon to lead the Tigers to the 27-team title at Fox Valley Golf Club in North Aurora.
The Tigers withstood challenges from Lyons Township and Waubonsie Valley, both of whom were a shot behind the 301 collective posting of WW South.
Lyons was declared runner-up on the basis of its fifth card; Hinsdale Central counted four 76s to place fourth at 304.
Marmion, which had the individual champion in West Chicago resident Matt Fazio, was fifth at 305.
Perennial contenders St. Charles North and Lake Park rounded out the top 10; St. Charles East, Benet, West Aurora, Naperville North, Kaneland, Glenbard South, Wheaton North, and Glenbard West all had players in the 70s to lead their respective clubs.
Downers Grove North, Montini, Aurora Christian, Larkin and Fenton also competed in the tournament.
"It was good but it could have been better," Plepel said of his 1-under-par 71 that paced the Tigers' invitational triumph. "I'm more excited that my team won today."
Plepel had 4 birdies on his round, and red numbers are often the difference at the North Aurora layout, which features par-5s reachable in two as well as several short par-4s that are easily victimized by aggressive driving.
Kelly, the Tigers' returning state qualifier, knows the formula for success at Fox Valley.
"I started to hit my driver well again, and that's what got me playing well again," said Kelly, who checked in with a 73, good for sixth overall.
"A big day for the Tigers," WW South coach Jimmie Selleck said. "We came here today with a number in mind, 300, and basically reached it. Everyone on the team has shown a great deal of enthusiasm and leadership."
Waubonsie Valley was searching for its third tournament win this fall; the Warriors, who returned their entire state-qualifying lineup from a year ago, were led by Alec Meyer, who fired an even-par 72.
"I played very well today," Meyer said. "When I caught some good breaks, I tried to take advantage of them."
The Warriors' Thomas O'Bryan had the low nine-hole score with an inward-nine 33; the senior shaved 10 strokes off his front side to record a 76.
"We played well," Waubonsie Valley coach Dave Owles said. "It's disappointing to lose the tournament by a shot."
Fazio won the tournament on the basis of his birdie on 18, the first hole used in the scorecard playoff with Plepel.
"I couldn't argue with that one," Fazio said of the tiebreaker. "It was basically an ideal round."
Lake Park had its finest showing of the season behind the combined 149 (74-75) from Troy Butler and Brian McKeown.
St. Charles North senior standout Nate Clark earned top-10 status with his 2-over-par 74, which teammate Dan Sheperd matched to frame the North Stars' 310 total.
St. Charles East senior leader Jordan Wetsch is flirting with level par - for the season - after firing yet another even-par 72 to finish in fourth place.
Other than Michael Heithoff, who fired a 76, however, the Saints struggled in the wet conditions.
"(Wetsch) needs a little more help but didn't get it today," St. Charles East coach John Stock said. "We have to get stronger and get tougher. We'll get it turned around."
West Aurora had consistency throughout its lineup in finishing a stroke behind the Saints' 313 total.
"It's amazing to shoot 77 and not finish in the top 30," West Aurora coach Jay Bauer said of his lowest scores from seniors Nick Pavlik and Adam Baumann. "That's our low round (as a team) of the season."
For host Batavia, which fielded two teams, Nathan Podraza fashioned a pair of 1-over-par 37s to finish in a large group at 74.
The Bulldogs' primary varsity team finished a shot behind West Aurora; the Bulldogs' second unit, paced by a 76 from Andrew Sterling, was well back.
Batavia and fellow conference unbeaten St. Charles East have a critical Upstate Eight Conference River dual match on Thursday at Prairie Landing in West Chicago for regular-season supremacy in the league.
For one of the few times this season Hayley Guyton was not the low performer for Kaneland.
The reigning girls Class AA state runner-up posted an 83 to count as the Knights' fourth score; Josh Schuberg and Zach Douglas fired rounds of 77 and 79 to pace Kaneland.
"I never seem to play well here," Guyton said.
Jake Ettelbrick fired an 82 to lead Aurora Christian.