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Boys golf: Geneva's goal? A state championship

Last year was perhaps a bit of a surprise for Geneva making the team cut for the Class 3A state finals in boys golf.

"We didn't have too many rounds under 300 and kind of came on strong at the end of the season," Geneva coach Eric Hatczel said.

But it has been an entirely different situation for the Vikings this year.

Geneva has set school records for 18-hole tournaments throughout the season in earning a second straight trip to the final weekend of the season at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington.

The Vikings (298) were 2 shots behind four-time defending state champion Hinsdale Central in placing runner-up at the Oswego sectional on Monday.

But Geneva is one of two teams - Loyola did it twice - to defeat Hinsdale Central during the regular season in tournament play.

"We're going down there to win this weekend," said Geneva senior Andrew Abel, who had a career-best 6-under par round to lead the Vikings past Hinsdale Central at the Red Devils' invitational. "We knew it was going to be a really solid year for us when the season started. We improved a lot this year from last year."

Geneva was last among the 12 state-qualifying teams last season.

But Tyler Isenhart, Spencer Monroe, Jack McDonald, Nick Geen, Casey Prentiss and Abel all played at least one round in the finals last October.

"We'll just try and keep things as even-keel as possible," Hatczel said. "The experience they got last year is invaluable. I think every team that goes in there wants to come home with a trophy. Any hardware is good hardware down at the state tournament."

Five Fox Valley area athletes will compete as at-large competitors in the largest-class division.

St. Charles East will send Mike Bertke and Connor King into the fray after the Saints' duo both carded 1-over 73s at Blackberry Oaks in Bristol on Monday.

"I went to state with the team two years ago," said the senior Bertke. "I still have that state experience."

King will compete from a different angle.

"It's my first time playing in the big-school tournament," King said. "I don't have much experience. I'm just going to do the same thing as I did for the regional and sectional."

Jay Bauer knows first hand the difficulty of navigating the postseason hazards of the western suburbs.

"This is only the third time in 24 years I have been down," said the West Aurora coach who will retire after sophomore Ryan Vanderway competes this weekend. "What a thrill, what a great way to go out with the excitement of the state tournament. I'm looking forward to it."

Vanderway had a half-dozen birdies at Blackberry Oaks to punch his downstate ticket with a 73.

Senior Zach Beaugureau of Cary-Grove qualified out of the Harlem sectional.

Marmion denied Kaneland on a fifth-card tiebreaker to snare the final berth out of the Class 2A sectional at St. Viator on Monday.

"We finished third in the sectional, so I don't think anyone expects much from us," said Marmion senior leader Nick Huggins, who played in the Class 3A tournament last year.

Joe Sherman became the first four-time state qualifier in Burlington Central history.

Kaneland will have seniors Brett Glennon and Jake Hed in the field at the Illinois State University Weibring course in Normal.

Aurora Central Catholic senior Mac Cowen is the final area athlete in the Class 2A field.

Aurora Christian will return to Prairie Vista in the Class 1A tournament behind Brett Seward and Devin Johnson.

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