Lemont boys team finishes in fifth-place tie

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Lemont arrived in Normal this past weekend with hopes of claiming a boys golf state championship.

It didn't reach that goal but came away with another strong finish -- a fifth-place tie with Springfield.

Lemont's scores that counted Oct. 17 in the Class 2A competition at Illinois State University's Weibring Golf Club were sophomore Shane Purtle 80, junior Rob Smierciak, junior Jake Groselak 81 and junior Nick Szerzinski 85. Senior Kevin McMahon shot 88 and sophomore Kevin Kling 89. For the tournament, Smierciak shot 163, Groselak 164, Szerzinski 165, Purtle 167, McMahon 173 and Kling 177.

"This is the third year in a row we've been to state and we've improved every year, from 10th to sixth to fifth this year," Lemont coach Mark Hollatz said. "It's a good experience for our young kids. We're only losing one senior from this team, so we hope to use this finish as a springboard to next year.

"Considering the horrible conditions, we were the only team not to have a score of at least 90. The top five in the state was an initial goal this season, and we got that."

Normal U-High, led by tournament medalist Logan Stauffer, shot a 310 for a 643 total and a first-place tie with Wheaton Academy, which shot 324 on Oct. 17.

Stauffer closed with a 1-under-par 70 for a 147 total.

Sacred Heart-Griffin, the leader after Oct. 16's round, finished with a 326 the next day for a 644 total, one stroke off the pace.

JCA had a 331 finishing day for a 654 fourth-place total, 11 shots off the pace, while Lemont's 327 got it fifth.

• Lockport sophomore Krystal Garritson added a second straight 83 on Oct. 17 for a 166 total and a tie for 39th in her first visit to state in the Class AA state competition held at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale.