Boys golf: Scouting Lake County

NORTHERN LAKE COUNTY CONFERENCE

ANTIOCH

Coach: Andrew Benton

Last season: eighth in North Suburban Conference tournament, seventh in Class 2A Richmond-Burton regional

Returning golfers: Nick Farino (Sr.), Tony Sertic (So.), Reece Eldridge (Sr.), Alex Riedel (So.)

Newcomers: Warren Sundt, Trevor Gregory, Easton Iman, Robert McGinn, Nino Galante, Nick Gagnon, Connor Szwajkowski

Season outlook: Senior Nick Farino advanced out of the regional last fall, while sophomores Tony Sertic and Alex Riedel are back for their second season on varsity. "This year is going to be a good year for the Antioch golf program," second-year coach Andrew Benton said. "We are looking forward to the new conference and competing for a conference championship."

GRANT

Coach: John Eiduke

Last season: ninth in North Suburban Conference tournament, eighth in Class 3A Warren regional

Returning golfers: Dominic Asciutto (Sr.), Kyle Broome (Sr.), Richard Flogel (Sr.)

Newcomers: John Gizowski (Jr.), Nathan Gladfelter (So.), Mason Hernden (Jr.), Chase Maifield (Jr.), Michael Sullivan (Jr.), Ben Truss (So.)

Season outlook: The Bulldogs graduated five key golfers, but the returnees include senior Dominic Asciutto, who shot an 88 at conference last fall. "We begin our season with many golfers who gained experience last year," coach John Eiduke said. "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. If we can do that, we will make progress and have a fun season."

GRAYSLAKE CENTRAL

Coach: Jim Mazzetta

Last season: sixth in Class 3A Warren regional

Returning golfers: Cooper Brunk (Sr.), Jack Brown (Sr.), Carter Maiden (Sr.), Tyler Hanson (Jr.), Michael Sisk (Jr.), Alec Novak (Jr.)

Newcomers: Carter Trowitch (Sr.), Zach Wichlin (Jr.), Nate Twardock (So.)

Season outlook: The Rams graduated veterans Kyle Reynolds (Northern Iowa) and Michael Murdy (2015 sectional qualifier), but senior Cooper Brunk and junior Michael Sisk have both been varsity golfers since their freshman year. Sisk earned a sectional berth last fall. "I have some guys ready to step up," coach Jim Mazzetta said. "Hopefully we can build on some of our past success."

GRAYSLAKE NORTH

Coach: Tim Hough

Last season: seventh in Class 3A Warren regional

Returning golfers: Adam Baker (Sr.), Alex Wrobel (Sr.), Joey McHugh (Sr.)

Newcomers: Jack Dobovsky (Sr.), Brian Szramek (Jr.), Dylan Rowder (Jr.), Lane Getka (Jr.), Chris Ambrose (Jr.)

Season outlook: The Knights have left the Fox Valley Conference. As they begin play in the newly formed NLCC, they are led by three-year varsity golfers Adam Baker, Alex Wrobel and Joey McHugh. Baker was a sectional qualifier last year. "We can't wait to get started in the new NLCC," coach Tim Hough said. "It should be very competitive with some natural rivalries. I think our home-and-home schedule will lend itself to a very tight race for the conference championship."

LAKES

Coach: Kyle Naughton

Last season: 11th in North Suburban Conference tournament, fourth in Class 2A Richmond-Burton regional

Returning golfers: Adam Nuxoll (Jr.), Austin Hirsch (Sr.), Jackson Gifford (Sr.), Tommy Jones (Sr.), Brad Bies (So.)

Newcomers: Jayden Medina (Fr.)

Season outlook: The Eagles have a new home course, as they've moved from Antioch GC to Midlane Country Club. They also have a returning sectional qualifier in junior Adam Nuxoll. "We have a solid group of returners this year led by Adam Nuxoll, and we have some young talent with (sophomore) Brad (Bies) and (freshman) Jayden (Medina) too," coach Kyle Naughton said. "Richmond-Burton beat us by 3 strokes last year at regionals, so we were close to bringing the whole team to Freeport. The guys take practice pretty seriously, and they seem to be ready to bounce back. At tryouts, a few of them went pretty low. So this is the best we've looked in the last couple years."

WAUCONDA

Coach: Lee Oler

Last season: 10th in North Suburban Conference tournament, fifth in Class 2A Richmond-Burton regional

Season outlook: The Bulldogs sent three golfers - Will Rudd, John Herbst and Greg LePage - to sectionals last fall. Rudd and LePage graduated.

NORTH SUBURBAN CONFERENCE

LAKE ZURICH

Coach: Terry Geoghegan

Last season: seventh in North Suburban Conference tournament, seventh in Class 3A Buffalo Grove regional

Returning golfers: Ryan Brandt (Sr.), Nate Hughes (Sr.), Dan Angelina (Sr..), Tyler Gillen (Sr.), Konnor Kininmonth (Jr.)

Newcomers: Jackson Gillen, Geoffrey Edwards, Caden Jessen, Steve Cashner

Season outlook: Veteran coach Terry Geoghegan had several juniors in his lineup last year and saw Ryan Brandt qualify for sectionals. Fellow sectional-qualifier Matt Gadomski graduated. "We have some strong leadership with five returning players," Geoghegan said. "Ryan (Brandt) and Nate (Hughes) provide great stability in our lineup. We have a very competitive schedule, so I am really looking forward to how the squad responds to the challenges that our schedule provides."

LIBERTYVILLE

Coach: Sean Matthews

Last season: fourth in North Suburban Conference tournament, fifth in Class 3A Warren regional

Returning golfers: Jacob Mueller (Sr.), Michael Watt (Sr.), Michael Sefton (Sr.), Mark Jensen (Sr.), Mitch Kenston (Jr.)

Newcomers: Josh Blockinger (Sr.), Nate Sanderson (Jr.), Derek Calamari (So.), Carson Darnall (Fr.)

Season outlook: Jacob Mueller, a four-year varsity golfer who qualified for state for the first time last fall, returns to lead the Wildcats. Fellow senior Michael Watt is playing his third season on varsity. Junior Mitch Kenston qualified for the sectional last year. "We're looking to be competitive in all matches with strong senior leadership," coach Sean Matthews said. "Jacob Mueller had a great finish at the state tournament, finishing 26th, and we hope that with help from others, the team can be successful throughout the season."

MUNDELEIN

Coach: Todd Parola

Last season: third in North Suburban Conference tournament, second in Class 3A Warren regional, fourth in Rockford East sectional

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

Newcomers: Colin Wade (Fr.), Marco Rosales (Sr.), James Lee (Sr.), Christian Loar (Jr.)

Season outlook: The Mustangs won the North Suburban Lake Division title last season and should be competitive again in the new-look NSC. The team returns three strong four-year varsity golfers in Ryan Magee, Tyler White and Brett Parola along with three-year varsity starter Zach Zentz. Magee, White, Parola and Zentz all broke 80 at Bittersweet last fall in helping the Mustangs advance out of the regional. Coach Todd Parola says his Mustangs are counting on a number of newcomers and younger players to develop to fill in the fifth and sixth spots in his lineup. On Saturday, the Mustangs (313) finished second to Jacobs (300) in the Huntley invite at Blackstone Golf Club. Parola (75, fourth), Magee (77, seventh) and White (79, 12th) all earned medals.

STEVENSON

Coach: John Rueth

Last season: second in North Suburban Conference tournament, third in Class 3A Buffalo Grove regional, third in Rockford East sectional, 10th in state meet

Returning golfers: James Dvorak (Sr.), Jackson Bussell (So.), Kevin Chin (Sr.)

Newcomers: Mark Noonan (So.), Alex Kim (So.), Drew Mix (Sr.), Zachary Berkson (Jr.), Brett Ekenberg (Jr.), Scott James (Sr.), Brandon Lee (So.), Ben Ruksakiati (Jr.), Matthew Schawel (Jr.)

Season outlook: The Patriots are coming off a 10th-place finish at state and welcomes back seniors James Dvorak and Kevin Chin and sophomore Jackson Bussell off that squad. Stevenson shot a 307 (fourth place) in the season-opening Rolling Green invite. Dvorak carded a 73 to finish fourth and lead the way. Bussell had a 76, while sophomore Mark Noonan and senior Drew Mix each shot a 79.

WARREN

Coach: Mike Wittes

Last season: fifth in North Suburban Conference tournament, third in Class 3A Warren regional, ninth in Rockford East sectional

Returning golfers: Karl Tolentino (Jr.), Zane Blevins (Sr.), Ray Cordova (Jr.), Ryan Vrable (Sr.), Edgar Avila (Sr.), Trevor Britton (Sr.)

Newcomers: Tanner Steffy (Jr.), Clark Anderson (Jr.), Blake Leeper (Jr.)

Season outlook: The Blue Devils return five of the six players who teed it up in the regional at Bittersweet last year, and a third-place finish earned the team a sectional berth. Back from the regional squad are seniors Zane Blevins, Ryan Vrable and Trevor Britton and juniors Karl Tolentino and Ray Cordova. Tolentino and Blevins went on to capture state berths. Tolentino has played on varsity since his freshman year. "We should have a very successful season," coach Mike Wittes said, "if the players work as hard as they did last year."

EAST SUBURBAN CATHOLIC CONFERENCE

CARMEL

Coach: Jim Nolan

Last season: third in ESCC tournament, fourth in Class 3A Warren regional

Season outlook: The Corsairs, a perennial contender for the ESCC championship, fell 1 stroke shy of third-place Warren for the final sectional berth in the Class 3A Warren regional last year. Then-junior Tyler Anderson shot a 71 at Bittersweet and was the regional medalist. Mike Roy, Riley Ley and Jack Herron, another junior, also advanced to the sectional.

CENTRAL SUBURBAN LEAGUE

VERNON HILLS

Coach: Shawn Healey

Last season: sixth in North Suburban Conference tournament, first in Class 2A Richmond-Burton regional, third in Freeport sectional, fourth in state meet

Returning golfers: Justin Park (Sr.), Brian Favia (Jr.), Sujay Voleti (So.)

Newcomers: Joey Levitan (So.), Brendan Wise (So.), Jacob Florian (Sr.), Daniel Yong (Sr.)

Season outlook: The Cougars are coming off their sixth straight regional win and best state finish with fourth in Class 2A. They finished ninth at state in 2014. Senior Justin Park and junior Brian Favia started for both of the Cougars' state teams. Park, who's playing his fourth season on varsity, finished 11th at state last year. Favia tied for 31st. "We hope to be competitive in our new conference (Central Suburban League) against top flight competition," coach Shawn Healey said. "Big goal is to get back to state as a team and not leave empty-handed." Vernon Hills opened the season by shooting a 307 in winning the nine-team Glenbard North invite at Glendale Lakes on Tuesday. Favia (74) was the medalist, while Park (75) took third. The Cougars also counted the rounds of sophomores Sujay Voleti (79) and Joey Levitan (79).