Scouting sectionals meets, Northwest
Scouting Class 3A boys golf sectionals
When: Monday
Barrington sectional at Makray Memorial Golf Course (Teams competing are Barrington, Cary Grove, Carmel, Highland Park, Huntley, defending champion Lake Forest, McHenry, Munelein, Rockford Boylan, Rockton Hononegah, Stevenson, St. Viator)
Pekin sectional at Lick Creek Golf Course (Teams competing Belleville West, Edwardsville, Lincoln Way Central, Lincoln Way East, Lockport, Moline, Neuqua Valley, Normal Community, Normal West, Plainfield North, Quincy, Yorkville)
St. Charles East sectional at St. Andrews Golf Course (Teams competing are Addison Trail, Benet, Conant, Geneva, Hinsdale Central, Lake Park, Lyons, Naperville Central, Naperville North, St. Charles East, St. Charles North, York.)
New Trier sectional at Winnetka Golf Course (Teams competing are Brother Rice, Evanston, Glenbrook North, Homewood Flossmoor, Loyola, Maine South, Marian Catholic, Marist, Maine West, New Trier, Sandburg, Stagg)
What’s at stake: Advancement to the state finals to be held at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington Friday/Saturday.
Local outlook
Maine West tied a school record for match victories this season (13) and qualified for the New Trier sectional after an impressive third-place finish at the Glenbrook South Regional at Glenview Park Golf Club. The Warriors, who won the Grant Invitational this year, are led by senior Tom Kukec. He fired a 72 at the Maine/Niles shootout earlier in the season, the best 18-hole tourney score in Warriors history. West’s appearance at Winnetka marks only the third time ever they’ve advanced to a sectional tourney. “Our guys are peaking at the right time,” said Warriors coach Mike Godlewski. “We hope to represent Maine West and the Central Suburban League well and hopefully can qualify a player or two for state.” Kukec (78), Justin Mustari (80), Mike Fowler (83) and Tony Volk (86) counted scores at Glenview Park.
Barrington continued it’s recent string of successes by advancing to compete in their own Sectional at Makray Memorial. The Broncos got out of the Crystal Lake South Regional at Redtail Golf Club with a third-place finish as seniors Greg Conrad (70), Nick Schippel (79) and Garret Danelz (80), and junior Brad Powell (78) made clutch contributions. “We feel like we’re headed in the right direction,” said Barrington coach Mike Kallenbach. “We’ve got strong senior leaders, our guys are battle tested and I believe they’re up for Monday’s challenge.” The Broncos boast some incredible talents as Schippel was the Mid-Suburban League individual conference champion, while Conrad was titleist at Redtail. “It’s going to be a tough test at Makray,” Kallenbach added. “The teams that advance to state will certainly earn it.” The Broncos added three tournament championships to their resume in 2012 —the Mattoon Invitational, the Grayslake Invitation and the MSL tournament.
Joining the Broncos at Makray will be St. Viator, which finished second at its own Old Orchard regional. The East Suburban Catholic Conference champions were led at regionals by Robert Renner (77), Liam Warner (81), Luke DeTrempe (82) and Charles Derrick (83). On the individual side, Wheeling golfer Jack Ferguson advanced to Makray by winning the Old Orchard regional with a 73. It was another feather in the cap of the spectacular senior, who won the Wildcats Invitational this year and was medalist at the Ivanhoe Classic last year. “Makray will be tough,” said Wheeling coach Mark Menich, “but if Jack stays within himself and plays his game he has as good a shot as anymore to advance to Bloomington.”
Also qualifying as individuals to the Barrington meet were Hersey golfers David Milligan, Grant Manno and Nick Starkman, along with Ryan Maloney, Jeff Blethen and Josh Johnson from Prospect.
Conant will be playing in a sectional for the second consecutive season. The Cougars scored a place at the St. Charles East meet by finishing second at the Lake Park regional behind the scores of Zach Prill (81), Ryan Bailey (86), Ryan Curran (87) and Zach Piepho (87). Curran excelled this year with a 73 at the Addison Trail Invite while Prill medaled at Plainfield. “We were a bit inconsistent this year,” said Cougars coach Jerry Song, “but we did play well in some invitationals and our regular season highlight was beating Palatine at Prospect. With all the good teams headed into the sectional, we’ve got to bring our ‘A’ game, and I’m hopeful that one or more of the boys can qualify for state.”
Also moving on St. Charles as individuals were Matt Flasza and Carmen Valerio of Schaumburg, and Ryan White and Anthony Stacey of Elk Grove
— Bill Esbrook