Neuqua Valley boys, Benet girls win McGonagle Memorial
Neuqua Valley's Jack Vercautren couldn't ask for a much better start to his boys golf season.
Lauren Beaudreau's girls golf season has been just as good for Benet through the first two days.
Both athletes not only claimed medalist honors at Tuesday's 14th annual Vern McGonagle Memorial Championship at Naperville Country Club, they also led their teams to first place at the Naperville city tournament.
Vercautren shot a 72 to win by 5 strokes on a course that played typically tough. His success on the par 5s was key for Vercautren.
"I birdied all the par 5s and that really helped me gain my ground on the bogeys and the couple of double bogeys that I had," he said. "Other than that, just hitting them close."
Vercautren, a junior, won the annual Bob Sterr Invitational on Monday at Naperbrook with a 67. He shot a two-day 158 at state last year, where the Wildcats took home the third-place trophy.
"A little surprised by yesterday's score, but I'll take it," he said. "Big momentum boost going into the main part of the season, winning these two tournaments. Big team effort winning these two knowing that it's tough to do what we did last year."
Neuqua Valley won Tuesday with a 314. Benet was second at 323, with Naperville North next at 333, Waubonsie Valley checking in with a 334, Naperville Central at 336 and Metea Valley at 348.
Benet's girls placed second behind Naperville North Monday at the Gilley Invitational hosted by Homewood-Flossmoor, where Beaudreau also was the medalist with a 68.
On Tuesday the Redwings saw their score increase by 12 shots to a 334, but this time they beat the Huskies by 4 strokes to win the McGonagle for the second consecutive season. Beaudreau also was a repeat winner, this time carding a 75.
"I think our girls handled the tougher course really well," Benet coach Mike Bremner said. "My hat's off to Naperville North for beating us yesterday. They're a really solid team. I think the fact that their scores were a little higher today than they were yesterday speaks to how difficult this course is. But I'm really impressed by how our girls are playing right now. They did a great job out there."
Just a sophomore, Beaudreau already has made it clear she's a player to watch. She placed fourth at state her freshman season with a two-day 146.
"Lauren's become one of those kids, she came in as a freshman and we obviously knew she was a good player. But she's exceeded expectations by a lot, but now she's set expectations, if that makes sense. It goes from being, 'Hey, how's the freshman going to do?' to we depend on really good scores from her every time. She keeps contributing."
Arushi Singh of Waubonsie Valley was just a stroke back of Beaudreau with a 76.
"The biggest things was putts, my short game. If I mis-hit a shot I could get a chip and a putt, so that was really nice," Singh said.
Waubonsie Valley placed third with a 384, followed by Naperville Central, Neuqua Valley and Metea Valley.
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