Rain washes out final day at state
BLOOMINGTON — St. Charles East boys golf coach John Stock proved to be a man of prescience.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if they finished 1-2-3 at state this weekend,” Stock said Monday after Hinsdale Central, Naperville North and Lyons Township took the top three spots at the Saints’ sectional at St. Andrews.
“I called it,” Stock said Saturday afternoon after IHSA officials shortened the Class 3A state tournament to 18 holes when persistent rain ruled out the possibility of conducting the second round at The Den at Fox Creek. “It goes to show the quality of golf in the western suburbs.”
As a result, Hinsdale Central was declared the team state champion after its first-round collective 306 on Friday.
Naperville North had its highest finish since its 1994 Class AA state championship team with its runner-up 308.
Lyons’ third-place 309 marked the second straight year the program earned a trophy at state.
“Eighty-three, ‘93, ‘01 and now ‘12, (the tournament being shortened) happens about once every 10 years,” Stock said. “Unlike other sports, there is no rain dates. We needed at least five to five and half hours (to conclude the second round).”
The competitors, who went off in a shotgun start in hopes of beating the inclement weather, were able only to conclude three holes at both the Class 2A and 3A tournaments.
The three local competitors in the large-school division, seniors Max Kelly (St. Charles East), Dan Shepherd (St. Charles North) and Liam Creamer (Marmion), all had their careers conclude in truncated fashion.
At the Class 2A tournament at Weibring Golf Club in Normal, Kaneland had to settle for a 10th-place tie with Mt. Zion.
“We were happy that we made it downstate as a team,” Kaneland coach Mark Meyer said. “They were a little disappointed with how they played as a team. It’s a little bittersweet.”
The Knights were making their second appearance at the state tournament as a team in program history, joining the 1995 Class A contingent.
Matt Yonkovich, who had the Knights’ low score on Friday, and Dan Miller return for Kaneland next year.
Luke Kreiter, Connor Williams and Sean Glennon had their golfing careers come to a close.
At the Class AA girls state tournament just north of Decatur, St. Charles’ Ariana Furrie and Jordan Paige had their respective careers come to a close for St. Charles North and East.
The girls two tournaments met the same fate as the boys farther north.
Furrie was one spot behind — 16th — where she was a year ago for the North Stars.
“It’s been great having (Furrie) as a major contributor to the golf team,” St. Charles North coach Chris Patrick said. “She is going to be missed.”
Jordan also earned all-state distinction with her tie for 19th.
New Trier upended defending state champion Prospect for top honors as a team