Boys golf: Scouting Lake County

ANTIOCH

Coach: Andrew Benton

Last season: 8th in NSC meet, 6th in Class 2A Vernon Hills regional

Returning golfers: Tyler Steele (Sr.), Braden Ward (Sr.), Adam Regalado (Sr.), Nick Falino (Sr.), Reece Eldridge (Jr.)

Newcomers: Tony Sectic (Fr.), Alex Riedel (Fr.)

Season outlook: Andrew Benton replaces longtime coach Jeff Moxley and inherits a young group. Seniors Tyler Steele, Adam Regalado and Braden Ward all teed it up in the conference meet last fall. "This season is going to be an exciting one," Benton said. "We have a lot of returning members and two freshmen (Tony Sectic and Alex Riedel) that are looking to make a big impact on the team."

CARMEL

Coach: Jim Nolan

Last season: 2-2 in ESCC, 3rd in ESCC meet, tie for 5th in Class 3A Warren regional

Returning golfers: Sr. Riley Ley, Sr. Mike Roy, Sr. Quaid DeLacluyse, Jr. Tyler Anderson

Newcomers: Will Roberts (Jr.), Tanner Nelson (Jr.), Tommy Lacher (Jr.)

Season outlook: The Corsairs' returnees include sectional-qualifier Tyler Anderson, a junior, and senior Riley Ley, whose 71 in the ESCC meet last year tied for the best round. Senior Mike Roy also earned all-conference honors last season. At Pine Meadow last Wednesday, the Corsairs shot 153 in beating Libertyville, as Roy (34) and Anderson (37) led the way.

GRANT

Coach: John Eiduke

Last season: 12th in NSC meet, 9th in Class 3A McHenry regional

Returning golfers: Matt Burkart (Sr.), Jordan Favela (Sr.), Robert Leishman (Sr.), Michael Maye (Sr.), Tanner Wendt (Sr.)

Newcomers: Dominic Asciutto (Jr.), Kyle Broome (Jr.), Ben Cabano (Sr.), Richard Flogel (Jr.)

Season outlook: The Bulldogs bring back plenty of golfers who gained experience last year. Burkart has been on varsity since his sophomore year. "Hopefully our returning players and our newcomers will be able to focus on the challenges at hand, maintain that focus and take one shot at a time," coach John Eiduke said. "If we can do that, we will make progress and have a fun season."

GRAYSLAKE CENTRAL

Coach: Jim Mazzetta

Last season: 7-2, 3rd in Class 2A Vernon Hills regional, 5th in Grayslake Central sectional

Returning golfers: Kyle Reynolds (Sr.), Michael Murdy (Sr.), Grant Hupp (Sr.), Cooper Brunk (Jr.), Michael Sisk (So.)

Newcomers: Carter Maiden (Jr.), Jack Brown (Jr.), Alec Novak (So.)

Season outlook: The Rams return half their lineup from last year's sectional-qualifying squad in senior Kyle Reynolds, senior Michael Murdy and sophomore Michael Sisk. At the sectional, Reynolds fired a 76 to earn a state berth. Reynolds qualified individually for the sectional as a sophomore. He, Murdy and junior Cooper Brunk all played on varsity during that 2013 season. "We hope to continue to build on some of our successes from last season," coach Jim Mazzetta said.

GRAYSLAKE NORTH

Coach: Tim Hough

Last season: 4-8, 8th in Class 3A McHenry regional

Returning golfers: Jon Cesario (Sr.), Brandon Kottmer (Sr.), Alex Wrobel (Jr.), Adam Baker (Jr.), Joey McHugh (Jr.)

Newcomers: Josh Davis (Sr.), Declan Peterson (Jr.), Chris Ambrose (So.), Brian Szramek (So.)

Season outlook: The Knights will be competing in their final season in the Fox Valley Conference, before beginning play in the new NLCC next season.

LAKES

Coach: Kyle Naughton

Last season: 3-8, 9th in NSC meet, 7th in Class 2A Vernon Hills regional

Returning golfers: Ian Nuxoll (Sr.), Adam Nuxoll (So.), Andrew Whitis (Sr.), Jackson Gifford (Jr.)

Newcomers: Brad Bies (Fr.), Tanner Cappel (Sr.), Austin Hirsch (Jr.), Tommy Hucker (Jr.), Tommy Jones (Jr.)

Season outlook: Three-time sectional qualifier Mike Barry graduated, but he was the only senior in the Eagles' lineup at the conference meet last year. Six players broke 50 as the Eagles (184) beat Grant last Wednesday. "Young squad," coach Kyle Naughton said, "(that) might surprise people this year."

LAKE ZURICH

Coach: Terry Geoghegan

Last season: 3-4, 5th in NSC meet, 7th in Class 3A McHenry regional

Returning golfers: Matt Gadomski (Sr.), Scott Finley (Sr.)

Newcomers: Ryan Brandt (Jr.), Nate Hughes (Jr.), Graham Butler (Sr.), Tyler Gillen (Jr.), Dan Angelina (Jr.)

Season outlook: Matt Gadomski shot a 76 at the conference meet last fall to earn a medal, and the senior should lead the Bears this season. "We have good leadership coming back with Matt," coach Terry Geoghegan said. "(Juniors) Ryan (Brandt) and Nate (Hughes) have a chance to have a special season too. Consistency will be key. Our goal is simple: to improve every week. We will need to have a lot of confidence going into the last two weeks of the season to score well at our conference tournament, then carry that over to regionals and sectionals and see where that takes us."

LIBERTYVILLE

Coach: Sean Matthews

Last season: 6th in NSC meet, 8th in Class 3A Warren regional

Returning golfers: Jacob Mueller (Jr.), Michael Watson (Sr.), Michael Watt (Jr.)

Newcomers: Michael Sefton (Jr.), Mitch Kenston (So.), George Frangos (Sr.), Michael Hogan (Sr.), Mark Jensen (Jr.)

Season outlook: Jacob Mueller, who's playing his third season on varsity, returns for his junior year after earning a sectional berth last season. He shot 38 for nine holes at Willow Glen early last week. Depth could be a strength for the Wildcats as the season progresses. "I think we got a real nice squad," coach Sean Matthews said. "There are some younger guys who are coming in and doing a nice job too. We got some kids with some real nice swings. That's neat to see at the younger levels."

MUNDELEIN

Coach: Todd Parola

Last season: 4th in NSC meet, 1st in Class 3A Warren regional, 11th in Lake Forest sectional

Returning golfers: Ryan Magee (Jr.), Nick Chuma (Sr.), Tyler White (Jr.), Brett Parola (Jr.), Zach Zentz (Jr.)

Newcomers: Mikey Nieckula (Sr.), Clay Miller (Sr.), Colin Geary (So.)

Season outlook: Last fall, the Mustangs rebounded from a fourth-place finish at the conference meet to win the Warren regional. Four of their six players from the sectional-qualifying squad - Ryan Magee, Tyler White, Brett Parola and Nick Chuma - return. Zach Zentz's 79 at the NSC meet earned him an all-conference medal as a sophomore. In Magee, White and Parola, the Mustangs have a junior trio that has played varsity golf since freshman year. Mundelein won the conference in 2011 and 2012. The team should be in contention to win it again this fall. "We look to be competitive in a very tough NSC, coach Todd Parola said. The Mustangs won their season-opening invitational at Hawthorn Woods with a 144. Magee (33) and White (34) took first and second place, respectively.

STEVENSON

Coach: John Rueth

Last season: 7-3, 3rd in NSC meet, 3rd in Class 3A Warren regional, 4th in Lake Forest sectional

Returning golfers: Kamaren Sandhu (Jr.), Jedidiah Jhu (Jr.)

Newcomer: Jackson Bussell (Fr.)

Season outlook: The Patriots return a state qualifier in junior Kamaren Sandhu, but they were hit hard by the graduation of several players, including state-qualifier Jason Gohde and Luke Feder. "If we continue to develop our ability to focus on the moment and learn how to score," coach John Rueth said, "we should be OK."

VERNON HILLS

Coach: Shawn Healey

Last season: 8-2, 4-0 in NSC Prairie, 1st in NSC meet, 1st in Class 2A Vernon Hills regional, 3rd in Grayslake Central sectional, 9th in state

Returning golfers: Justin Park (Jr.), Brian Favia (So.), Ethan Lee (So.), Taner Fulton (Sr.)

Newcomers: Sujay Voleti (Fr.), Hayden Lau (So.), Daniel Yong (Jr.), Jacob Florian (Jr.)

Season outlook: After a division, conference, and regional championship season with a ninth-place state finish, the Cougars graduated a trio of seniors in Bo Manso, Ricky Schmidt and Stephen Levine. Junior Justin Park, sophomore Brian Favia and sophomore Ethan Lee all return from the state team. "Taner (Fulton), Sujay (Voleti) and Hayden (Lau) will round out our top six nicely," coach Shawn Healey said. The Cougars won the Glenbard North invite this past week at Glendale Lakes. Lee was 2-under par through 12 holes when weather shortened the meet. "Our goal is to make a return trip to Bloomington in October," Healey said.

WARREN

Coach: Mike Wittes

Last season: 5-3, 7th in NSC meet, tie for 5th in Class 3A Warren regional

Returning golfers: Orlando Avila (Sr.), Karl Tolentino (So.)

Newcomers: Trevor Britton (Jr.), Zane Blevins (Jr.)

Season outlook: The Blue Devils' returnees include senior Orlando Avila and sophomore Karl Tolentino, who shot 82 and 83, respectively, at the NSC meet last year. The duo then qualified for the sectional, as Tolentino carded an 80 and Avila shot an 84 at Bittersweet. "(We're) looking to be competitive in every meet and tournament we enter," coach Mike Wittes said. "(We) have a chance to be very good by the end of the year if the depth of the team comes through as expected."

WAUCONDA

Coach: Lee Oler

Last season: 2-2 in NSC Prairie, 10th in NSC meet, 8th in Class 2A Vernon Hills regional

Returning golfers: Will Rudd (Sr.), Greg LePage (Sr.)

Newcomers: Ben Brannick (Jr.), John Herbst (Jr.), Ty Janik (Jr.), Jake Tripp (Jr.), Matt Szmajda (Fr.)

Season outlook: Will Rudd carded an 83 at the NSC meet last year, just missing all-conference honors, and is back for his senior season. Greg LePage, Ben Brannick and John Herbst also teed it up in the NSC meet. "We look to compete within the division and have some good showings in the tournaments we are in," coach Lee Oler said. "It's a young team, so we should get better each week and enjoy the season. It's a good group of kids."