Boys golf / State tournament scouting, Northwest

Boys golf / Scouting Class 3A boys golf state tourney

When: Friday/Saturday

Where: The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course, Bloomington

What’s at stake: Team and individual state titles

Local teams competing: Barrington

The rest of the field: Edwardsville, Highland Park, Hinsdale Central, Lyons, Lake Forest, Neuqua Valley, Naperville North, Glenbrook North, Quincy, Loyola, New Trier.

Local individuals competing: Tom Kukec (Sr., Maine West) Hudson Luthringhausen (Jr., Saint Viator); Justin Mustari (Sr., Maine West); Josh Johnson (Jr., Prospect).

Outlook

Barrington’s first-place finish at the Makray Memorial sectional gives them plenty of confidence headed into the difficult Fox Creek Course. It’ll be the second consecutive state trip for the Broncos after an eighth-place finish in 2011. Now Barrington looks to move up the ladder at this year’s meet after defeating two-time defending state champion Lake Forest by 6 strokes at Makray. They boast a strong contingent of experienced players led by senior Greg Conrad, the 2011 Mid-Suburban League individual titlist who posted a very respectable two-day score of 165 at the “Den” last year. Senior Nick Schippel was this season’s MSL champ in what proved to be another excellent campaign for the MSL West squad. The Broncos won the Mattoon Invitational, the Grayslake Invitational, and the MSL tourney in addition to the sectional. Seniors Michael Ross, Garrett Danelz and Connor Maytnier and junior Brad Powell (74 at Makray) provide Barrington with plenty of firepower. Kukec and Mustari led a Maine West charge at the New Trier Sectional at Winnetka Golf Club. The teammates were the top two golfers of competitors not on advancing teams as both seniors fired 79’s to advance as individuals. Kukec will appear at the “Den” for the second consecutive season after carding 164 last year to score a 44th place finish, ane he shot a 72 at this year’s Maine/Niles shootout to set an 18-hole school record. Johnson also is making a return trip to Bloomington after shooting 79 at Makray, while Luthringhausen qualified with the same score in possibly the most challenging sectional field in the state.

— Bill Esbrook