St. Francis, Fenton divide MSC titles
Nick Armbrust has the state pedigree for the St. Francis boys golf program.
Fenton does not have the same luxury.
Monday at Phillips Park in Aurora, the peculiarities of the conference golf season came full circle.
St. Francis and Fenton reversed the Metro Suburban Conference regular-season defeats at the respective hands of Wheaton Academy and Bishop McNamara to capture their overall team championship in the Blue and Red divisions.
Armbrust fired the low round of the entire tournament, a 1-over-par 72, as St. Francis turned back Wheaton Academy 309-310. Wheaton Academy was 9 shots better than St. Francis in the schools' regular-season match.
Armbrust is well-versed with Phillips Park.
"I knew what to hit off each tee," Armbrust said. "I knew what holes to get aggressive with. I knew which holes (where) a par was good."
St. Francis was bolstered by Jack Toppen, fifth overall with a 77, and Jake Hafertepe and Ben Bougadis. The Spartans' narrowest of victories resulted in a 25-24 final score for the Blue title.
"It just goes to show that every shot counts," Armbrust said. "That's what coach Greg Baresel has been telling us all season."
"I grinded, knowing how important putting was going to be (to my score), especially on these greens," Toppen added.
Toppen started bogey-double bogey before finding his putting touch.
Armbrust and Turco shared the Blue MVP season-long honors.
Wheaton Academy was on the outside looking in after St. Francis' 1-shot victory.
"My immediate emotion is I feel like I left some (shots) put there," said Wheaton Academy senior Peter Crowe, who defeated teammate Graham Head and Aurora Central Catholic junior Nate Turco in a scorecard playoff to finish runner-up with a 76. "You're always going to think about strokes you left out there. At the end of the day, we played pretty well."
Head is only a freshman.
The Warriors' team total also featured contributions from David Frank and Class 2A state tournament returnee Jack Dykema.
"I do my best to contribute the best way that I possibly can," Head said. "Our team is peaking at the right time."
IC Catholic Prep, which lost its top six players to graduation last year, was sixth in the Blue with a 343. Thomas Hilgart was the Knights' low man with an 82.
In the Red tournament, Fenton seniors Rik Fischer and Marcus Astorga had matching 82s to lead the first Bison conference championship in six years.
"It was a single-division back then," Fenton coach Rick Johnson said.
"I made some mistakes on the back that I shouldn't have," Fischer added. "The front was pretty good."
Astorga plays No. 1 for the Bison.
"We proved that we have the willpower to come back," Astorga said of Fenton claiming a decisive 348-366 win. "All we had to do was beat Bishop Mac - and we did that to secure the title."
Timothy Christian was third in the depleted Red with a 371.
Aurora Central finished fourth in the Blue tournament and in the overall standings with its 338. Turco finished dead-even with Armbrust for player of the year.
"I knew if I played the best I could - and gave it the best that I had - I knew I could go for it and see what happened," Turco said. "I knew it was going to be close between me and Nick and a couple of the kids from Wheaton Academy. I knew I was in the mix to give it a go today. Considering all the stakes that we're on the line today, I'll take (my 76)."
Aurora Christian seniors Ricky Hochsprung and Gabe LaPapa are the last links to the Eagles' Class 1A runner-up team from two years ago.
Hochsprung wrapped up the Red Division MVP award with a medalist 77.
LaPapa was third for Aurora Christian with an 81.
Hochsprung faltered a bit after beginning his round with a front-nine 37.
"Disappointed with the back, but overall - after a double bogey on the first hole - I was happy with how I played," Hochsprung said. "It was a tough day out there. It was a grind for everyone."