Neuqua Valley can't catch Hinsdale Central
BLOOMINGTON - The pieces were in place for Neuqua Valley to make a run at three-time defending Class 3A champion Hinsdale Central on the final day of the boys golf season Saturday at The Den at Fox Creek.
The Red Devils' 7-shot first-round cushion over Neuqua Valley was hanging in the balance for much of the afternoon.
But it was not meant to be. Hinsdale Central had enough firepower from its state-hardened leaders to hold off New Trier and Neuqua Valley.
New Trier and Neuqua Valley both had better second-round scores than the Red Devils, but Hinsdale Central survived to win with a two-day score of 621.
New Trier made up 4 shots on Neuqua Valley to deny the Wildcats by a mere stroke, 624-625, for runner-up status.
The Wildcats were making only their second appearance in program history at the state tournament.
"It's a little disappointing knowing we all could have had a few strokes that we left out there," said Neuqua Valley sophomore Jack Vercautren, one of four players to break 80 for the Wildcats with a 78.
Thomas Huang narrowly missed all-state status after his 78 left him in a four-way tie for 13th place.
"I don't like to think that way," the Wildcats junior said of a potential target score before the round started. "I just go out there and try and save every stroke that I can."
Seniors Greg Crowley and Jack Richards had matching 79s to complete the Wildcats' collective second-day total of 314.
Nick Walker ballooned to an 86 on Saturday, but Neuqua Valley could have never captured its first state hardware without the level-par 72 the senior fashioned on Friday.
"At the end I was just trying to find a way to help the team," Walker said.
"We have been resilient all year," Neuqua Valley coach Bart Carbonneau added. "We were thrilled (to finish third)."
Brendan O'Reilly, third at state last year and who recently committed to Illinois, led the fourth straight Hinsdale Central title with his area-best seventh-place finish.
The golf team joins the boys tennis team to win four consecutive state championships at the school, the all-time record-holder for most state triumphs.
"This one is pretty special," Hinsdale Central coach Jess Krueger said. "We struggled a little bit all year. We certainly had to work at it."
Wheaton Warrenville South senior Sean McCaffrey had a potential all-state second day derailed by twin triple bogeys.
But the Tigers' lone qualifier still broke 80 both days.
"I was in position to score on almost every hole," McCaffrey said. "It was just the two holes that killed me."
At the Class 2A tournament on the campus of Illinois State University in Normal, St. Francis' two-day play earned a program first as well.
Led by all-stater Jonathan Nocek and Luke Armburst, the Spartans shaved a pair of strokes off their Friday finish to place runner-up to downstate Morton, which easily defended its team title.
"I thought our kids played great," St. Francis coach Greg Baresel said. "We knew it was going to be a challenge. We played well enough to get second."
Glenbard South senior Christopher Dufort matched the lowest single-day score - a 3-under 68 - of any of the three state tournaments to place third for the Raiders.