Boys golf: McDonald leads Geneva to top honors
Jack McDonald had a seeming wait of eternity to claim another 18-hole tournament championship.
But the Geneva senior had impeccable timing Thursday afternoon in his final appearance at the Vikings' 20-team boys golf home invitational at Mill Creek.
Playing almost flawless golf - an errant tee shot on No. 12 resulted in an unplayable lie and his lone bogey - McDonald toured the par-71 layout with a career-low 3-under 68.
It was an almost an almost surreal day for McDonald, a three-time Class 3A state qualifier who is the Vikings' starting point guard in the winter months.
"As of now, I am leaning toward basketball," McDonald said of his future plans. "I had college (basketball) recruiters following my group. I started on hole (No.) 2 (in the shotgun start) with a birdie and never looked back. I have finished second three or four times, but this is my first tournament win since my freshman (year) regional."
The Vikings' Tyler Isenhart no longer has any worries regarding his destination for the next level.
Third at the state tournament the last two years, Isenhart has committed to Baylor.
Isenhart was also in the red for Geneva on Thursday, fashioning consecutive nine-hole scores of 35 to finish with a 70.
Will Marshall, another state-accomplished veteran for Kaneland, matched the 1-under number Isenhart authored as the duo were runners-up.
Marshall has two career top-five finishers, including solo fifth last fall in Class 2A, for the Knights.
But the 4-under total the Vikings' top guns totaled was more than enough to propel Geneva to the team title as Quinn McNeive and Nathan Dalton completed the Vikings' collective card with identical 82s.
Geneva defeated Kaneland 302-311 for its first tournament title of the season; St. Charles East was third at 311, followed by St. Francis' 313.
Neuqua Valley (320), DeKalb (320) and Waubonsie Valley (323) were tightly bunched for fifth.
Isenhart and McDonald are seeking a fourth consecutive state appearance this fall.
"I am really excited about (the possibility)," Isenhart said. "That would be so much better if we went as a team than just me, or Jack and me. I started the round kind of bad."
Geneva coach Eric Hatczel has more than grown accustomed to his two senior stars paving the way for another multi-team championship.
"They have been two of the cornerstone athletes at our school," Hatczel said. "It's hard to explain the impact they have had on our program. It's always nice to defend the home invite. We've been notching (our team scores) down at every tournament."
Marshall continued his historic success at the tournament for Kaneland.
"It was kind of an up-and-down round," said the uncommitted Marshall. "I started lipping out a few putts."
Any inconsistency Marshall encountered, however, was jettisoned after an eagle-birdie flourish at Nos. 12 and 13.
The Knights' Ryan Milton, top 20 last year in Class 2A, was seventh with a 76.
St. Charles East sophomore Chris Petri tied for fourth with a 3-over 74 to guide the Saints' fortunes.
"On the back (nine) I shot a 33," Petri said. "None of the putts were falling (after the turn). I probably lipped out on 6 putts."
The Saints' David Griggs, Batavia senior Will Huber and Aurora Central Catholic senior Nathan Turco were the final area medalists with their matching 77s.
Bradley-bound St. Francis Class 2A state veteran Nick Armbrust was among the three players who tied for fourth with a 3-over 74.
"I scrambled the whole day," Armbrust said. "I pieced together my round. My putting kept my momentum going. I was making a lot of putts."
Ben Bougadis is one of four returning starters for St. Francis' seventh-place state team.
Bougadis' 79 was another instrumental portrait for the Spartans' fourth-place finish.
"The greens were much faster than I thought they were going to be," Bougadis said. "A lot of (my scoring) was just grinding it out. I made a lot of testers (on the greens)."
In its first appearance at the tournament, Neuqua Valley was unable to continue its torrid start to the season.
The Wildcats' returning state qualifier, Colin Chromy, was also slowed on his second nine after an outward-nine of level-par 35.
The senior finished with a 79.
Will Troy had his season-opening tournament winning streak snapped at three for Waubonsie Valley.
But the Warriors' standout still paced the team with a 78.
Jack Michelon was the low man for Glenbard South (357) with an 82.
"He's only a sophomore," Glenbard South coach Phil Yudys said.