Boys golf: Hinsdale Central sizzles to Batavia Invite title
Even with its top six players in another state, four-time defending Class 3A state champion Hinsdale Central was the class of the 24-team field at the Batavia Invitational Saturday in St. Charles.
The venerable boys golf tournament traditionally draws elite teams from throughout the western suburbs, but conference rival Glenbard West could only wonder what it takes to dethrone Hinsdale Central.
"They're always good," Glenbard West coach Paul Hezlett said of his West Suburban Silver rival after placing runner-up, 299-301, to the Devils.
Wheaton Warrenville South (307) was 2 shots clear of Geneva, which suffered its first team defeat of the season, for third place.
Kaneland crowned the individual champion in Will Marshall to place fifth at 310, while a mere shot separated York, Plainfield North, Lake Park and Lyons Twp. for the final top-10 berths.
Jackson Castellon fired a level-par 72, and teammates John Williams and William Bradley were collectively 3-over to lead the Hinsdale Central triumph.
The Devils' state-honed veterans were at a national tournament in Arizona.
Kevin Nelson overcame the most dreaded word in competitive golf, a "snowman" as in a quadruple-bogey 8, to lead Glenbard West with a sixth-place 73.
"My drives were in really good places today to make birdies," Nelson said. "I had two birdies and an eagle. I had a lot of birdie chances. I played really well today."
The Hilltoppers' Jacob Valdick and Griffin Roscich complemented Nelson with matching 75s.
"We're pleased that we reached more of our potential today," Hezlett said. "We beat a lot of other teams. (They realized) they could compete."
Joe Donzelli was one of six players to post 1-over 73s in piloting the WW South fortunes.
Course familiarity was a familiar topic among the players as Batavia vacated its longtime home - Fox Valley in North Aurora - for the St. Charles layout.
The four Wheaton schools played their city championship at Pheasant Run.
"I played better overall (than the city tournament)," Donzelli said. "I was hitting my driver well and was left with wedge shots. I was hitting them close for birdie."
Justin Seymour, Cooper Kohout and Michael Zubak were all in the 70s for WW South.
"Irrespective of the score, I thought the boys handled the conditions pretty well," WW South coach Jimmy Selleck said. "There were several reasons to back up mentally."
Benet senior Austin Feldman was the six-man scorecard playoff victor among competitors who were 1-over on the day to place fifth overall.
York, eighth in Class 3A last fall, had Jake Brown in the sextet a shot over even to lead its cause.
Lake Park, Waubonsie Valley and Downers Grove North were also in the rich field.
Cade Kenyon had a 74 to lead Waubonsie Valley.
"I had zero (course) knowledge," the junior said. "I had never played the course before. I was lucky enough to have a few kids in the group who knew what they were doing."
Lake Park did not have a player higher than 80 as Zach Place paced the Lancers' 312 total with a 75.
Marshall and fellow sophomore Tyler Isenhart of Geneva are among the top underclassmen in the area, if not the state.
Marshall has captured every tournament title except the Bartonville-Limestone invitational Isenhart steamrollered with a sizzling 7-under 65.
The Kaneland sophomore, fourth in Class 2A last fall, was in the red on both nines to win his fourth 18-hole tournament with a 2-under 70.
Isenhart had the lowest outward-nine score with his 34 but faltered on his back nine in settling for a 76.
Marshall was one better than Plainfield North senior Nate Kirberg for top individual honors.
"Last year we played (Pheasant Run) against Wheaton Academy (in a dual match)," Marshall said. "I had no recollection of the back nine. My mental game was pretty strong today. I stayed patient; that's what really helped me today."
"I started off playing really bad," Isenhart said. "I was 7 over with three to play. I played my last four in 3 under. I just wasn't hitting it well and kept lipping out putts."
"Our boys felt a collective gap toward the middle of the round," Geneva coach Eric Hatczel said of his initial tournament loss this fall.
Spencer Monroe, Hudson Traylor and Andrew Abel were all 78 or better for Geneva.
The Vikings edged Kaneland 309-310 for the final team plaque; Jake Hed augmented Marshall with a 77 for the Knights.
Aurora Christian senior Brett Seward matched the 35 Marshall fashioned on the front nine to place third overall with a 72.
St. Charles East (316, 11th) could have been in contention for a piece of team hardware had it not been for final-hole triple-bogeys registered by top-two finishers Connor King and Danny Buetow.
"It was definitely pretty frustrating," said King, who finished with a 76. "I played the first 17 holes pretty well. I kind of threw it away on the last hole."
Buetow met the same number on his last hole in firing a 77.
Jake Muehlschlegel and Michael Stasczuk each had 78s to lead St. Charles North, which finished one slot behind its sister school with a 319.
Host Batavia and Marmion finished in back-to-back fashion as Cam Marbach led the Bulldogs with a 76.
"Today the driver was working well," the Batavia senior said. "My approach shots were getting down on the green pretty well."
Jimmy Morton was the low man for Marmion with an 80.
Joel Pryer (81) held the same distinction for West Aurora.