Boys golf: Kaneland's Marshall takes 5th at state

NORMAL - Will Marshall has forever etched his name in Kaneland golf annals.

Bound for Nebraska, the Knights' senior fired a 74 at the Weibring Golf Club on the campus of Illinois State University Saturday to earn a fifth-place tie at the truncated Class 2A boys state tournament.

The scores from all three boys tournaments were thrown out on Friday afternoon after snow wreaked havoc, forcing cancellation in Normal and the Class 1A and 3A tournaments in Bloomington.

"There wasn't much (the IHSA) could do about it," Kaneland coach Mark Meyer said. "It was frustrating for our guys who got off to a great start (on Friday)."

Marshall simply ran out of holes at the par-71 layout in crafting his third top-five finish of his career.

"I think (Marshall) would have liked to have a chance to do better than that," Meyer said.

Milo French (second in Class AA) and Matt Yonkevich (fifth in 2A) are the only other Kaneland golfers to place in the top five.

The Knights finished seventh with a 321, and Crystal Lake South was 11th at 325.

At the Den at Fox Creek, Geneva four-year state qualifiers Tyler Isenhart and Jack McDonald shot identical 75s in their final rounds for sixth-place Geneva (309).

Jacobs' Garrett Tighe also concluded his career with an even-par 72 to finish in a fifth-place tie with future Iowa teammate Mac McClear - among others - of team champion Hinsdale Central (297).

"A couple of mistakes, but I thought I played pretty solid," Tighe said. "It was a weird feeling (with the first round discarded). You had to play well or that was it."

Marmion senior Peter Thayer was in the large group with Isenhart and McDonald in a tie for 18th with his 75.

Bartlett senior Justin Everson and West Aurora three-time state qualifier Ryan Vanderway had 77s.

"I was only 1 over (on Friday)," Vanderway said. "I have kind of mixed feelings. When it comes down to one day, you know you have to play really well."