Neuqua Valley makes transition to DVC

Course knowledge cannot be discarded under any circumstances in the sport of golf.

The members of the Neuqua Valley boys golf team used some prior intelligence Thursday at Bartlett Hills Golf Course.

The par-71 Bartlett layout is home to three of the five Upstate Eight Conference Elgin-area high schools.

“Our guys have played here quite often,” Neuqua Valley coach Bart Carbonneau said.

In its first year in the DuPage Valley Conference, the Wildcats were seeking an unblemished campaign.

Placing its four counting players in the top 10, including league champion Thomas Huang, the Wildcats were once again the class of the field in the nine-team arrangement.

The winds were as capricious as the scores were unpredictable, but the Wildcats fired a collective 310 to deny runner-up Naperville North by 9 shots and win their first DVC title after spending all previous 17 years in the Upstate Eight.

“It's a new conference, and we knew there would be some good competition,” said Huang, who fired a 3-over 74 to earn medalist honors. “The main reason why we played the Elgin tournament (10 days ago) was to get a feel for the course.”

“It was at least a two- or three-club wind when it was really howling,” Neuqua Valley sophomore Jack Vercautren said of playing into the teeth of the elements. “As a team, we played so well. No matter what you're doing, always stay in it.”

The Wildcats used their entire lineup to secure the conference championship.

“My No. 1 (Greg Crowley) didn't have a good day at all,” Carbonneau said. “Depth has been huge for us.”

Jack Richards' 78 and Matt Rouches' 80 were seventh and 10th for Neuqua Valley.

Vercautren also ended with a 7-over 78.

Wheaton Warrenville South, Metea Valley, Lake Park, Waubonsie Valley, Naperville Central, Wheaton North and Glenbard North all finished behind the top two programs.

Jake Wright and David Lipan also had their prior experiences in the Upstate Eight payoff.

Wright and Lipan, seniors from Waubonsie Valley and Metea Valley, were second and third, respectively, with scores of 75 and 76.

“I was able to hit a lot of fairways, which was big considering how windy it was,” Wright said. “I was able to shape a lot of shots. I started off on (Nos.) 1 and 2 with bogey-bogey but ended with seven straight pars.”

“We have been out here for a few matches the last couple of years,” Lipan said. “I know the course pretty well. I had pretty high expectations going into the day.”

WW South needed to win the tournament outright after dropping its sole regular-season match to the Wildcats.

“I felt like for a while there we had a pretty good shot,” WW South coach Jimmy Selleck said. “(Neuqua Valley) played tough at the end of the day just like they have for the rest of the year. They're pretty deep.”

Sean McCaffrey was solo fifth with a 77 to lead the Tigers.

Naperville North senior Brendan Bond was fourth with a 76.

“It was my putting on the back nine that was difference for me,” Bond said. “I gained more confidence after I made the first few and just tried to keep it going.”