St. Edward claims regional crown

The St. Edward boys golf program is no stranger to hoisting postseason hardware.

Green Wave teams under former coaches like Jim Perkins, Bob Fleury and Ken Mattini were frequent contenders for regional, sectional and state championships. The program has 15 state Top 10 finishes over the years, including a state title in 1981.

Tuesday St. Edward added to that lore by breaking a nine-year postseason championship drought in winning the Class 1A St. Edward regional at Elgin Country Club.

The Green Wave won their first regional since Mattini's 2001 team did so (and went on to finish ninth in the state). It was the program's 13th regional championship. St. Edward advances to Monday's Class 1A Westminster Christian sectional at Golf Club of Illinois in Algonquin.

St. Edward outdistanced runner-up North Shore Country Day by 3 strokes. Chicago Latin School took the final team spot with 332.

“We had very good thoughts going into it, said St. Edward coach Dr. Greg Winters. “These guys have played the course numerous times and had significant knowledge of the course.

Winters noted his team was third by 3 strokes at the turn.

“I think the back nine made up the difference, said Winters. “The back nine plays a lot harder. Our scores were not all that great on the back nine, but other teams went up even more.

St. Edward junior Michael Holevas, a state individual qualifier as a freshman, tied for second overall with a 76.

“We're very happy to be able to move on as a team, said Holevas. “Hopefully we can keep playing well at sectionals and get the team Downstate.

Holevas recorded one birdie during his round.

“My short game was keeping me in it, said Holevas. “I was getting up and down and making my putts.

Holevas hit an approach on 18 with a 6-iron to within 10 feet of the cup and parred the hole.

“I had 1 double-bogey, but other than that I played pretty consistent, he said.

Blake Poremba added an 81 for the Green Wave. Suburban Christian Conference individual champion Eric Winters shot 84 and his freshman brother, Dan Winters, added an 85. Eric Winters was hampered by a 2-stroke penalty on the 16th hole. Dan Winters shot 40 on the front.

Elgin Academy's Tim Lynn and Andrew Dykun also advanced to the sectional. Lynn shot 78 and took fourth, while Dykun's 82 also slotted him amid the top 10 individuals not on qualifying teams.

Westminster Christian's Christian Benson carded an 89 and also advanced.

Class 3A Woodstock regional: Crystal Lake South is headed to the sectional as a team after placing second at the Class 3A Woodstock regional at Plum Tree National in Harvard.The Gators shot 315 and finished 5 strokes behind regional champion Machesney Park Harlem.South junior Nick Robles won the individual regional title with a 72outdistancing Harlem junior Patipan Pipatpinyopong by 3 strokes for the top spot.#8220;I'm very happy with the way I played, said Robles. #8220;It was really my irons and my putting. I was able to get on the green and make the 2-putt and once in awhile get a bomb.Robles birdied holes, 3, 6, 11 and then capped off his round with a fourth on 18.#8220;On 18 I had a 25-footer for birdie in front of a bunch of people, he said. #8220;It was exciting. I didn't have any really big numbers. I had a few bogeys, but I countered those with birdies. I minimized my mistakes. I came in with the mindset to go out there and do the job and help out the team.Robles won his third individual tournament of the season. He also won invites at Chalet Hills and Oak Grove (where he shot a season low 69).South also counted a 78 from senior Brandon Sieser and an 82 from senior Scott Stalo. Seniors Mike DiGrazia and Rob Lemke both shot 83.#8220;Brandon had a great round for us, said South coach Curt Wadlington. #8220;He went out there and played relaxed. He's been our sixth or seventh golfer this year and he went out there and shot 78. He shot his best round of the year on one of the biggest days of the year.Huntley took seventh as a team, but Red Raiders sophomore Ryan Craig snared the final individual qualifying spot with an 87. South and Craig will head to the Class 3A St. Viator sectional at Old Orchard in Mt. Prospect Monday.Class 2A Belvidere North regional: Burlington Central finished second as a team at the Class 2A Belvidere North regional at Timber Pointe in Poplar Grove. The Rockets shot 339, 17 strokes behind regional champion Freeport. Central advances to Monday's Freeport sectional at Park Hills. Freshman Matt Weber led the Rockets with a 76. Senior Matt Allison added an 85, while senior Brent Wilkening had an 88 and senior Luke Fleming shot 90.Hampshire finished fifth in the regional field, but still qualified all four of its individuals for Monday's sectional.Junior Jeremy Yoder led the Whips with a 90. Junior Adam Clemons shot 94, while senior Ryan Tasche finished with a 96 and senior Joey Stob qualified with a 102. All four were among the top 10 individual scorers not on sectional-qualifying teams.