Boys golf: Inspired York advances to state
It may not have been Knute Rockne-like, but York junior Zach Sutter did just as well with his speech to his teammates.
Sutter gave an impassioned speech on the team bus to the Sportsman's Country Club in Northbrook for the Class 3A Glenbrook North boys golf sectional in the hopes of inspiring his team.
Sutter's message resonated with his teammates, who finished third in the highly competitive sectional and advanced to this weekend's state finals at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Club in Bloomington.
York finished third with a 296. That was 4 strokes behind Glenbrook North, which was second with a 292. New Trier won the sectional title with a 288.
The low scores continued with Lyons finishing fourth with a and Loyola fifth with a 308.
"We are all pretty close, so I thought it would move the guys and get us a little closer," said Sutter, who carded a 78 to earn the fourth score for his team.
"I talked about brotherhood and how we are all family and not just teammates. A lot of that goes into our play on the course and if things are going well to continue to fight for your team."
York coach Jim Borel, who was driving the bus, wasn't able to hear Sutter's speech.
"I didn't hear the speech," Borel said. "It was tough to hear because I had the window open. But I am proud of the kids. We had a senior at 70 (Josh Labunty) and a senior at 74 (Matt Buckley) and they helped carry the day for us."
The Dukes also counted a 74 from Sam Bartolone and had good performances from Connor Polomsky (81) and Joe Bonelli (84).
Labunty, whose score of 70 tied him for second with Glenbrook North's Kevin O'Regan and Glenbrook South's Aaron Chung said, "Sutter wrote a speech and we were all pumped. I just focused on keeping it in play off the tees. We knew we had to bring our best to keep going."
Conant finished sixth with a 318. The good news for the Cougars is that they did advance a pair of individuals to the state finals. Sunny Sivarathri, who shot a 74, and Nikko Ganas, who had a 75, will both be competing this weekend.
"We came in here with a plan as team," Conant coach Scott Cieplik said. "But we knew we had some individuals that could also make it."
Matt McColaugh (84), Tyler Ryan (85), Rohan Patel (86) and Graham Knott (95) also competed for Conant.
Despite his 95, it wasn't a lost cause for Knott. In a practice round on Sunday at Sportsman's, Knott aced the sixth hole and will now have his name engraved on a plaque at the club.
"I took all my good shots yesterday," said Knott, who shot an 80 on Sunday. "I got a hole-in-one and I am so excited."
Maine South was seventh with a 328. The Hawks, who were regional champions last week in Hoffman Estates, had a rough go in Northbrook.
Maine South failed to have a golfer break 80 with Brennan Dombro right at that mark. Myles LaHart (81), Nicholas Dombro (83), Nicholas George (84), Michael Ceiertniak (86) and Sean Gallery (88) were all in the 80s for the Hawks.
"We were a little disappointed," Maine South coach Steve Scholl said. "You could see it on their faces. The front nine was a challenge for them so they didn't get out of the gate like they would like."
Rolling Meadows, which qualified for its second consecutive sectional, finished with a 353.
"It was outstanding for our team to get to sectionals," Rolling Meadows coach Joe Szabo said. "It is great accomplishment. I told our guys that had a lot to be proud of."