'A great experience'

Waubonsie Valley's Alec Meyer is all smiles as he finishes up his round of golf at the IHSA State Championship tournament at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington Saturday afternoon.
(Donnell Collins/For The Beacon-News)

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BLOOMINGTON - Things didn't go as his team planned or hoped, but Waubonsie Valley boys golf coach David Owles figures the players will learn from it.

"We went in not just wanting to show up, so the way we played as a team was disappointing, but the whole weekend was a great experience," he said after his club shot 651 to finish ninth at the IHSA Class 3A State Tournament at The Den at Fox Creek.

St. Viator, paced by individual champ Dan Stringfellow, shot 611 to win the team title by eight strokes over New Trier. Waubonsie Valley's Upstate Eight Conference rival, St. Charles East, tied for seventh at 641.

The Warriors lineup features no seniors and will be looking to return here next year.

Sophomore Alec Meyer, who shot 80 in Friday's first round followed it up with a 76 on Saturday, and his 12-over par total of 156 left him tied for 13th.

"I got off to a rough start, three-putting the first hole," he said of his bogey-6 to open his round on the par-5 10th hole. He then bogeyed the next hole before recording birdies on three of the next four holes to get back on track and finish his first nine at 1-under 35.

"I just thought (after the second bogey) most people don't get to come down here, so I figured I'd try to have fun and just focus on each shot," he said. "I ended up making a lot of good shots.

"I didn't know I'd be this nervous, but I really was, especially the first day. There were a lot of good golfers here."

Junior Josh Stefanski, who opened with a 78 on his second trip to state, struggled Saturday to an 83 and finished tied for 43rd.

"Making it here last year (individually) was great but it wasn't as much fun as this year because we had the whole team," he said.

The Warriors other scores included juniors Brian Salerno (81-87--168) and Thomas O'Bryan (85-83--168) tied for 77th, sophomore Alex Koulos (83-91--174) placed 92nd and Dylan Despot (96-97--193) took 105th.

"I was 1-over through 10 holes yesterday but made quadruple bogeys on 11 and 17," O'Bryan said. "The team played pretty well but I was disappointed I couldn't help them out more. They were pretty tough scoring conditions, although today was much better than yesterday."

Marmion Academy senior Tim Johnson struggled over his final three holes (double bogey, bogey, par) Saturday but still led six area competitors in the IHSA Class 2A State Golf Tournament. He followed up Friday's opening round of 78 with a 79 at Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State to tie for 14th place.

"If you would have told me at the start I would have finished 14th I would have been pretty happy with it," Johnson said. "I didn't finish as good today as I would have liked, though. I could have jumped a couple more spots."

Yorkville's Conor McCormick and Sandwich's Lucas Burkett each tied for 52nd at 169. McCormick, who opened Friday with a 79, shot 90 on Saturday. Burkett went 85-84.

IMSA's Luke Nayak, who is from Normal, improved 10 strokes Saturday with an 83, allowing him to tie for 79th with a 174. Yorkville's Nick Muellner improved by 18 strokes, shooting 98-80--178 to tie for 88th place.

Oswego's Nate Behrens, the first boy from the school to ever reach state, shot 88-92--180 to finish 91st.

"He battled big time," Oswego coach Matt Borrowman said. "It's a long, long day with rounds that go more than five hours. Nate is the kind of kid who likes to get going and get in a rhythm."

Johnson said the conditions on the tough course improved from Friday to Saturday but were still a challenge.

"It was still very windy but yesterday there was wind, rain and sleet and it was very cold.

"The greens were very fast, pretty much lightning, especially after playing at Phillips Park and Pheasant Run at regional and sectional."

He was up and down with his putter, said Marmion coach Jen Konen.

"It was the worst and best thing about his round," she said. "He'd make a 15-footer to save bogey but then he'd three-putt."

Wheaton Academy and Normal University High tied for first at 643 in the 2A team race with the Wheaton school winning on the fifth score. Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin was one stroke back at 644. Boys State Golf

Girls State Golf