WW South, Downers North edge Benet for final team spot
As golfers Benet's boys know frustration is just part of the game, but they've experienced more than their share of it this season.
The Redwings shot a 318 at the Class 3A Glenbard West regional at Village Links of Glen Ellyn, but they missed out on the last of the three team spots advancing to Monday's sectional by a mere 2 strokes.
Defending state champion Hinsdale Central surprised no one by winning the regional title, shooting a four-score 303. WW South and Downers Grove North tied for second at 316.
"We knew it was going to be close the whole day," WW South senior Brian McCaffrey said. "We've kind of been battling with Benet with all the invites we've been at with them. We've been close."
Host Glenbard West was fifth at 336.
Benet will send four individuals to the sectional at St. Andrews in West Chicago after they each finished in the top 10 among golfers not playing for the top three teams.
"It's kind of bittersweet," Benet coach Marty Gaughan said. "I'm very happy for the four guys. They all deserve it. I told them, I never want to use the word 'close' again. We lost in a playoff for (the East Suburban Catholic Conference), we came in second place a couple of times at invitationals."
Junior Jack Neenan and senior Alex Bassetto each shot a 78, and juniors Nick Schanzer and Austin Feldman each shot an 81 for Benet.
"We've been so close to having just an unbelievable year," Gaughan added. "We've had a good year. So hopefully it'll be a really, really good year if those four guys can continue on. It'll be good to see all four of them advance to the state."
WW South senior Brian McCaffrey was 1 shot off the leaders with a 75. His twin brother, Sean, shot a 77, and Tigers sophomore Justin Seymour rose to the occasion with a 79.
Hinsdale Central senior Drew Shepherd won the individual championship by shooting a 74, then defeating teammate Kenneth Li and Downers Grove North freshman Aidan Lafferty in a two-hole playoff.
"When you've got a team like Hinsdale, you know obviously that's probably going to be one of the three spots filled up already," Gaughan said. "So then you've got everybody else really playing for the other two spots. We saw Downers earlier this year. They've got good young players. And we've seen Wheaton Warrenville South in tournaments all year long. They've got the twins, the McCaffreys are just great players, and they played well. They deserve it."
Tigers coach Jimmie Selleck especially liked the way Sean McCaffrey finished his round.
"He got off to a little bit of a slow start but just remained calm," Selleck said. "He believes in himself and just stayed the course and weathered the storms and was able to finish well."
Wheaton North junior Zach Gerry and Downers Grove South's Trent Caraher each qualified for the sectional individually with a 76.
Glenbard West saw junior Kevin Nelson advance with a 78 and senior Jack Chandler go on with a 79. Hilltoppers sophomore Jay Ludington earned the 10th and final individual spot by shooting an 82 and winning a playoff.
Follow Orrin on Twitter @Orrin_Schwarz