Boys golf: Grayslake Central knocks off Grayslake North

Even if you have played Stonewall Orchard Golf Club 75-100 times, as Grayslake Central seniors Brendan Kick and Nate Twardock estimate they have, home-course advantage isn't always an advantage.

"It's a little intimidating," coach Jim Mazzetta said of his Rams' home golf course. "Jeff (Pajula, head golf pro/general manager) treats us well out here. He lets the kids come out here basically whenever they want. You can't beat that, especially on a course like this."

Regarded as one of Lake County's finest, Stonewall Orchard yielded few good scores again Tuesday, as Grayslake Central hosted Grayslake North in Northern Lake County Conference action on a picturesque late afternoon. Kick and Twardock shot the lowest scores, as each fired a 3-over-par 39 on the front nine to lead the Rams to a 172-214 win.

Two-time defending NLCC champ Grayslake Central improved to 5-1 in the conference, while Grayslake North fell to 2-6.

"We usually always win at home because we know the course so well and the other guys just don't," Twardock said.

"We play out here probably 3-4 times a week," Kick said. "It's a tough course - for anybody. Even if you play here 100 times, it's still tough. There are always places that you can mess up."

Neither Kick nor Twardock had ever broken 40 for nine holes at Stonewall from the varsity tees.

Twardock, who won JV conference last year at Shepherd's Crook in Zion, has been one of the Rams' top golfers all season. He chipped and putted well on Stonewall's challenging greens.

"I didn't hit that many greens, but I had a lot of up-downs that saved my game," Twardock said. "I had a lot of good, 8-10-foot putts (that went in)."

Twardock shot a 95 on Monday, as Grayslake Central teed it up in a tournament at Ivanhoe Golf Club. He caddies there.

"In a way that helped prepare us for this because it's a lot faster and it's a lot harder," Twardock said. "I was playing well yesterday. I didn't shoot well, though."

Kick guesses he had only 15 putts. He sank a 20-footer on the par-4 fourth for his lone birdie. Gianni Lucchesi and Cam Mussay shot 43 and 51, respectively, for Grayslake Central.

Kyle Bosshart was Grayslake North's only golfer to break 50. The senior carded a 48, which included a birdie on the par-5 third hole.

"The greens were a little fast today - not like our home course (Renwood Golf Course)," Bosshart said. "But it was fun. It had some challenging holes."

Grayslake North also counted Tommy Marshall's 54 and 56s from Adam Calhoun and Garrett Zaba. Calhoun, who tied the Knights' school record with a 34 at Spring Valley recently, took a 10 on one hole.

"It's not (a course) we're used to playing a lot," Bosshart said. "When we get out to a tough course like this, you got to think about all of your shots."