'Why not now?'
Young Waubonsie Valley team qualifies for state ahead of schedule
WEST CHICAGO - Time waits for no one. Apparently, neither does the Waubonsie Valley High School golf team.
"We thought next year was going to be our year," said Warriors' sophomore Alex Koulos, echoing the prevalent sentiment heading into Monday's St. Charles East Class 3A Sectional.
(Michael Smart/Staff Photographer)
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6,920 yards, par 71
Team Scores
1. Waubonsie Valley, 302*
2. St. Charles East, 304*
3. Hinsdale Central, 305
4. Wheaton Warrenville South, 315
5. Neuqua Valley, 317
6. York, 326
7. South Elgin, 329
8. Hinsdale South, 343
9. Bartlett, 347
* qualified for state finals
Top Five Individuals
1. Thomas O'Bryan (WV), 71
2. (tie) Tee-K Kelly (WWS), 72
2. (tie) Theo Lederhausen (HC), 72
4. Raymond Knoll (Naperville North), 73
5. Austin Mitchell (NV), 74
Area individual scores
Andrew Cisco (Geneva), 77
Bill Gregory (Geneva), 83
Nick Pavlik (West Aurora), 85
Nick Michael (Batavia), 87
Waubonsie Valley scores
Thomas O'Bryan, 71
Alex Koulos, 75
Alex Meyer, 77
Dylan Despot, 79
Josh Stefanski, 80
Brian Salerno, 86
It was based on the fact his team's lineup featured no seniors.
"Change of plan," interjected a passing teammate, who overheard the conversation.
'Wait until next year' has become 'Why not now?' for the Warriors.
Paced by medalist Thomas O'Bryan's even par 71, Waubonsie Valley shot 302 to win the sectional title. Upstate Eight Conference rival and host, St. Charles East, shot a 304 to edge touted Hinsdale Central by a stroke for second place.
"I just putted a lot better," said O'Bryan, comparing his round to the 76 he shot here less than two weeks ago at the UEC Meet.
Except for the chilly temperature, conditions Monday were ideal with little wind and no rain.
"I did a couple putting drills before the round and felt a lot better. I was making a lot of 10-foot putts today."
He finished the round with 29 putts and had three birdies and one bogey on the front to go out at 2-under and seven pars and two bogeys on the back.
"On the front nine there are some birdie holes out there," he said. "The back nine is tough. You have to play within yourself. You don't expect to win, you just try to play your game and today was great for us as a team."
The top two teams and eight individuals not on those teams qualified for this weekend's Class 3A State Tournament at The Den, an Arnold Palmer-designed course in Bloomington.
The Beacon-News circulation area had no individual qualifiers. Geneva junior Andrew Cisco came up one stroke short, shooting a 77. It took a 76 to advance.
Geneva sophomore Bill Gregory shot 83, West Aurora junior Nick Pavlik had 85 and Batavia freshman Nick Michael shot 87.
Koulos was the medalist at last week's West Aurora Regional and helped lead the Warriors to a third-place finish and the final sectional qualifying spot. He shot 75 Monday to finish sixth individually.
"We had two teams (St. Charles East and Neuqua Valley) break 300 here a week-and-a-half ago at our conference meet, so we thought that's what it would take today," said Waubonsie Valley coach David Owles.
"We had a seven-stroke improvement. I'm just glad our 302 held up. Talk about every stroke counts."
Waubonsie Valley also got a 77 from sophomore Alex Meyer and 79 from junior Dylan Despot, the fifth and sixth men in its lineup.
"They shot 87, 88 last week (at regional) so they came up big," said Owles. "To have the medalist last week and this week. That helps your chances as a team quite a bit."
The Warriors did not count the 80 of junior Josh Stefanski or 86 of junior Brian Salerno.
"We've never won a sectional title before, even though we've advanced to state as a team a couple times," said Waubonsie's Owles.
"In fact, I don't think we've ever won a regional as a team before. I'm so proud of the kids and so happy for them. They're thrilled. Enjoy it while we have it now because who knows if we'll ever have this chance again. It's been six years since we went as a team."
Owles, a Normal Community High grad who will be going home this weekend, was an assistant coach on that 2003 team.
