Flynn, Warriors net sectional title

When your top two players post under-par scores, you figure it's going to be your day.

Led by medalist David Flynn's 2-under-par 70 and third-place Blake Biddle's 1-under 71, Wheaton Academy punched a ticket to this weekend's Class AA boys golf state tournament in Normal with its second-place team showing at Monday's sectional in St. Charles.

Playing on their home course at wind-swept Pheasant Run, the Warriors' 4-man total of 300 was 1 stroke off the pace of team champion Crystal Lake Central (299) but 24 shots better than third-place St. Edward (324).

"I thought we played well today," said Warriors coach Bob Broman, who guided the team to a fifth-place Class A state showing in 2005. "I'm happy with 300."

Seniors Austin Hall and Dom Sessa added counting scores of 79 and 80, respectively, for Wheaton Academy.

"David and Blake have been our top two guys most of the year -- they've always been around the top in tournaments," said Broman. "But the next two (counting) scores haven't always been from the same guys. Last week (at regionals), our third and fourth scorers were Bobby (Gryfinski) and Jeff (Berg).

"I'm grateful to have six very good players."

Flynn was at his best as the wind increased, shaking off a sluggish start with birdies on 6 of his final 14 holes.

"The round turned around for me on 6," said Flynn, who edged Crystal Lake Central's Riley Bauman for medalist honors by sinking a 12-foot birdie putt from just off the green on the third playoff hole. "I had a really good up-and-down on 6, then I made a 20-footer for birdie on 7."

Flynn's best birdie may have come at the 415-yard, par-4 14th hole.

"I drove it a little right into the rough and then hit a 6-iron from 180 (yards) out to within 4 feet," he said.

Flynn, who placed 67th in the state last year as a freshman, will have plenty of company this weekend.

"It's nice to be going as a team," he said. "It should be a lot more light-hearted."

Biddle, a St. Charles resident, carded a career-high 8 birdies to go with 4 pars, 5 bogeys and a double-bogey.

Bauman's career-best round included 4 birdies and added enjoyment.

"My dad told me not to be so uptight," Bauman said. "So I went out and had fun."

Matt Calder (73), Griffin Bauman (77) and Keenan Murphy (79) supported the cause for the Tigers.

"For six years in a row, we've never gotten out of the sectional so it's exciting for these guys to finally be playing in Normal," said Tigers coach Michael Hermann.

The list of individual qualifiers was headed by St. Edward's Brad Winters (77), Timothy Christian's David Stremler (76) and Andrew Woodhull (79), Montini's Anthony Blashewski (79), Driscoll's Joe Gattone (79) and St. Francis' Mike Segneri (80).

"One of my goals this season was to return to the state tournament," said

Winters, who tied for 40th in last year's Class A tourney.

Woodhull, who missed a state berth by 2 strokes a year ago, relied on his 3-iron off the tee and a solid short game, while Blashewski fired an even-par 35 on the front side with 3 birdies.

"My putter was really good on the front side," said Blashewski. "On the back, I was just trying to keep it together."

"I made a 20-foot putt on the 18th hole," said Gattone, a senior. "I don't think anyone has gone down (to state) from our school for five years."