Dundee-Crown Charger Classic turns 40
The area’s most prestigious boys’ golf tournament is celebrating a big birthday this year.
The Dundee-Crown Charger Classic turns 40 on Saturday. The 18-hole event will take place at Randall Oaks Golf Club in West Dundee with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. Awards will be given to the team champions and the Top 10 individuals.
Local entrants include Bartlett, Cary-Grove, host D-C, Elgin, Jacobs, South Elgin, St. Edward and Streamwood.
The host school is paced by Jeremy Gregory and Shane Lubecker.
“Jeremy and Shane have been our most consistent golfers up to this point,” said Chargers coach Bob Sweeney. “Jeremy has been playing well lately and the exciting thing is he has shown greater consistency in his ball-striking and short game.”
Sweeney is pleased with where his team is headed here in the home stretch of the season.
“The main thing we are doing well and continues to be our focus is improving our nine- and 18-hole individual and team scores,” he said. “Although we may not see significant improvement in our scores during the second half of the season, I like the progress the guys are making.”
Streamwood boys update: The Sabres made a little program history recently. Eric Hamlin’s 37 and Chase Pantle’s 38 at The Highlands against Larkin was the lowest combined two-player score in school history.
“Eric is really coming on as a three-year varsity player,” said Streamwood coach George Rosner. “He is stronger than ever and hitting the ball a ton. A little more consistency and he will compete with anyone. Chase is a sophomore playing No. 2 on varsity and is getting better each time out. He will be a really good player as the season moves on. I think we have a chance at two all-conference positions if Eric and Chase continue to play well.”
Rosner has seen flashes from Hayden Holota and Arsenio Pascual.
Huntley girls update: The Red Raiders are enjoying a tremendous season. Huntley was 7-0 overall and 5-0 in FVC play through midweek.
“We’ve done quite well this year with a young team,” said Huntley coach Ann Christiansen. “Some of our girls played a lot over the summer. We had seven freshmen come out and three of them don’t play tournaments, but take lessons and they can hit the ball.”
The Red Raiders have been paced by juniors Jillian Young and Leah Virsi, senior Zoe Dowell and sophomore Lexi Lowitski. Young leads the team in scoring. She medaled in the recent McHenry County meet and took third at the Elgin Country Club invitational.
“We lost four seniors last year and felt this year would be kind of are building year,” said Christiansen. “We have a fairly young team, but they have played very well.”
St. Edward boys update: The Green Wave were 5-3 through midweek. John Butzow shot a 79 at the Rockford invitational last week, while Mike Mattas had an 81 at the same meet. Michael Butzow and Dan Winters also have been key contributors for St. Edward.
“Our Top 4 guys have been pretty consistent,” said St. Edward coach Greg Winters. “We haven’t had all four play well together at the same time. We have to get them all playing well together.”
Huntley boys update: Like the Huntley girls’ team, the Red Raiders’ boys’ team was off to a perfect 8-0 start through midweek. Huntley was 4-0 in FVC Valley play. The team scored a key 148-160 win over Prairie Ridge recently.
“We’ve had our foot on the accelerator pretty good,” said Huntley coach Jim Rolando. “We’ve had a great showing so far.”
Junior Trent Craig has been Huntley’s top scorer, while sophomore Jake Grabner also has played well.
“Trent has been solid all year,” said Rolando. “Jake has been one of our most consistent guys and our other seniors have been very consistent. They’ve been right there for us. Our Top 7 or 8 guys have maintained and played well for us.”
Huntley returns to conference action next week at home at Pinecrest against Cary-Grove and Dundee-Crown.
Bartlett-South Elgin-Streamwood girls update: The Bartlett-South Elgin-Streamwood girls’ co-op team has been led by Kristi Struck and Katie Kirkby, helped the team shoot 191 in a recent match against Batavia. “The team is collectively working very hard to drop its average below 200,” said coach Amber Huisinga. “We have two varsity players new to golf and the older girls are doing a great job of helping these girls learn the ropes and hone their skills.”
Junior varsity players Kristie Toondarack (Streamwood) and Molly Mehta (South Elgin) will be moved up to varsity this weekend to play in an invitational due to their outstanding efforts at the JV level recently. “I think they will be great additions to the varsity team,” said Huisinga.
Jacobs boys update: The Jacobs boys’ golf team was 7-1 overall and 4-1 in Fox Valley Conference Valley Division play through midweek. The team has been paced by the likes of Chris Boyle (37 avg.), Jack Ramsett (37.5) and Justin Lenzini (38).
“Finishing rounds has been a big key for us,” said Jacobs coach Jeremy Bauer. “We may have one or two bad holes throughout the rounds, but everyone is fighting through the tough parts of their rounds. Everyone on the team has contributed one way or another.”
Bauer lauded the efforts of Lenzini and Gabe Askam in key situations. “Those two have shot consistently low scored and helped us in some of our big matches and tournaments,” said Bauer.
Larkin boys update: Larkin coach Tim Jones noted the team has stated to receive solid contributions from seniors Jack McCracken, Tyler Kalusa and Drew Jones, along with juniors Dan and Jon Lenz. Juniors Bryan Sheridan and David Bermudez also are improving. “We still have a ways to go because of the brutal regional we are in,” said Jones.
St. Edward girls update: The Green Wave have been led this season by Ryann Scully and Abrianna Schreurs. Scully, a junior, averages 45 for nine and shot a 94 at the Stillman Valley tournament.
“We have been consistently striking the ball well and getting those key chips and putts,” coach Brianna Lamp said. “It’s been awesome to see the girls develop over this season and we still have so much golf left to play.”
Elizabeth Lamp and Schreurs have taken steps forward in recent matches. “Elizabeth has stepped up to lead the team in a positive way,” Brianna Lamp said. “She has been working on her game and showing her teammates how to truly dedicate and work hard to see results. Abrianna also has stepped up her game and has shown great improvement over he last few matches.”
Dundee-Crown girls update: D-C sophomore Kylie Kost shot 47 at the recent Elgin Country Club invitational and helped the team take eighth. She leads the team in scoring average. Senior Morgan Howe and junior Maddie Hunsberger are also among the team scoring leaders.
“We’re working really well together,” D-C co-coach Laurie Herb said. “We have the biggest girls golf team in school history with 17 girls. We have a lot of potential.”
Also helping out the Chargers are Maggie Ahern (coming back from a knee injury), Caroline Hutton, German foreign exchange student Marja Berthold and Brooke Hayes.
South Elgin boys update: The Storm won the West Chicago invitational earlier in the season with a 317. Tyler Brown shot a 74 there on the St. Andrew’s Lakewood course.
Senior Deven Meredith leads the team in scoring average at 39.2 for nine. He shot 73 at Mill Creek, 77 at St. Andrews, 37 at Naperbrook and 38 at Bartlett Hills. Brown is at 41.1, while Andrew Dylo (42) and Nate Reeser (42.5) also contribute.
“We’re playing consistent and the short game is saving the guys some strokes,” Storm coach Jay Bartholomew said.
Elgin boys update: Junior Josh Hegel recently shot a 48 in a dual match against St. Charles North, while Travis Paquin, also a junior, had a 48 against Partlett.
“We’re seeing improvements as the year goes on,” said Elgin coach Andy LaScala.
Hampshire boys update: The Whip-Purs were 7-2 overall and 3-0 in Fox Valley Conference Fox Division play through midweek.
“Our three conference victories early in the season were great conference boosters for us,” noted Hampshire coach Jeff Howe.
Senior Geoff Beck medaled over Grayslake Central, while freshman Miles Miller IV shot 1-over and medaled against Grayslake North. Junior Jake Tuttle shot par and earned medalist accolades against Johnsburg. Beck has been the team’s low scorer five times thus far and has three meet medalist honors to his credit. Tuttle had been meet medalist twice.
“We have not played our best golf in the past week or so, but we continue to remain positive and the boys are working very hard to get back to early-season form,” said Howe.