That 70s show

Low-scoring quartet earns 1st regional title for Benet since 1982

GENEVA -- Don Maag had to fight just to get onto Benet's postseason roster.

Redwings coach Dan Nagis' squad was so deep that Nagis had three golfers compete in a playoff this past weekend to determine who would play in the postseason.

Luckily for Benet, Maag survived and carried his good play into Tuesday's Class 3A Regional at Mill Creek Golf Course. Maag and sophomore teammate John Callahan each shot 2-over-par 73 while Will Feldman and Mike Kenning carded 78s to lead the Redwings to their first regional championship since 1982.

"(Coming out Saturday) and playing in the playoff was tough," said Maag, a junior. "I played well then and continued it today."

Benet (302), Waubonsie Valley (309) and Batavia (310) were the three teams to advance to the Class 3A Sectional, set for Monday at Naperbrook Golf Course.

"With the competitive nature of this regional," Nagis said, "we were looking for two kids to go low."

Benet was the only one of the 10 schools with four golfers to post in the 70s.

Callahan's 73 did not surprise anyone.

"He's been our most consistent golfer all year," Nagis said. "I don't think he has an 18-hole score higher than 75. He just doesn't make mistakes, and he doesn't dig a big hole for himself."

Callahan and Maag lost a playoff to West Aurora's Brandon Vicory for medalist honors, but Callahan didn't seem to mind.

"I don't think I missed a putt inside of 10 feet today," he said. "It felt good to play well because playing well in (the postseason) is when it really matters."

Waubonsie coach Dave Owles didn't expect his Warriors to compete for the regional crown - especially after their poor showing in last week's Upstate Eight Conference tournament.

"I think that kind of took the pressure off of us because the expectations weren't quite as high," he said. "I told the kids to go out and play. I guess having a little less pressure on ourselves paid off."

Paul Asheim (74), Matt Nied (75) and Josh Stefanski (78) paced the Warriors. The trio had not managed to put a solid 18-hole round together until Tuesday, which helped Waubonsie advance past regionals for the first time since 2003, when the Warriors finished seventh in state.

"We found a lot of consistency today," Asheim said. "This course suits our style of play, which is to hit the ball in the fairway and make some pars."

Neuqua Valley finished fourth, which under the old two-class format would have been enough to advance to sectionals. In the two-class system, the top four teams in the regionals moved along to sectionals.

"(The reduced number of teams that would advance out of regionals) has been a bone of contention with all of the coaches when we went to three classes," Neuqua coach Spike Grosshuesch said. "I mean, why (did we) go to three classes if we (were going) to reduce the number teams that have an opportunity to compete? But that is the way it is this year, and maybe next year they will change it."

Grosshuesch had two individuals advance in Stephen Powers (75) and Matt Pell (77). The top eight individuals from the non-advancing teams also earned a spot in the sectional field.

Naperville North senior Suyi Tongo (78) and Naperville Central senior Grant Bishop (79) also advanced as individuals.

Tongo's 78 in last year's regional kept him from qualifying for the sectional round.

Bishop had to wait until the final group posted its score until he could assure himself a chance to play Central's home course again this season.

"I bogeyed the first three holes," said Bishop, who couldn't even break 80 before the season began. "But with golf, you just have to keep together, keep playing hard and stay positive."

Bishop said he felt the Redhawks might have put too much pressure on themselves as a team, with the sectional round taking place at their home course.

"Maybe we got rattled today - I don't know," he said. "We've been consistent throughout the season, but not today."

Bartlett, Downers Grove South, Hinsdale Central, Hinsdale South, Larkin and St. Charles East are the six schools that will join Batavia, Benet and Waubonsie at Monday's sectional tournament.