Boys Golf: Seventh straight Blue crown for Lemont
By Logan Malloy For Sun-Times Media September 24, 2012 8:50PM
Lemont High School's Joe Paloian, 17, watches his tee shot on hole No. 2 of the South Course during the South Suburban Blue Boys Golf Tournament at Broken Arrow Golf Club Monday, Sept. 24, 2012, at 16325 Broken Arrow Drive in Lockport. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: October 26, 2012 2:23PM
There’s no end in sight to Lemont’s reign at the South Suburban Blue Tournament.
The Indians, who have won all seven tournament titles since the inception of the league, fired a 320 to defeat runner-up Oak Forest (356) on Monday in the seven-team field at Broken Arrow.
Lemont senior Joe Paloian navigated windy conditions on the North and South nines to shoot a 7-over 79 and become the first back-to-back champion in league history.
“Through the first nine, I didn’t know if I still had a shot at it,” said Paloian, who recently gave a verbal commitment to Carthage College. “I knew I had to make a move on the back nine. It feels great to win two years in a row. Words can’t really describe it. I’m so proud of myself.”
Paloian shot a 43 on his front nine, but rebounded with a sterling 36, including four birdies, on the South course.
His back-to-back title feat is even more astonishing considering Paloian was cut from the team his freshman year.
“I’ve never coached anyone who’s gotten so much better year after year like that,” Lemont coach Mark Hollatz said. “It’s unbelievable how much Joe’s improved.”
All six of Lemont’s players finished in the top 10, with Joe Ziebell (80) edging Ray Cipele (80) in a two-hole playoff for second place. Matt Groebe (81) finished fourth, Sam Marzo (84) took eighth and Ben Groselak (88) was ninth.
“This is good for our team,” Paloian said. “I want tough conditions because when we make it down to state, it’s not (ideal conditions). Playing in bad weather is good experience for us, and I feel like we’re playing pretty well right now.”
Oak Forest junior Dave Karwoski finished fifth in a scorecard playoff. Last year he placed 11th.
“My goal was to be in the top five,” Karwoski said. “It’s good because it’s kind of what I expected, but it also leaves a lot I can still improve on going forward.”
T.F. South, led by Justin Pasko (6th, 84) and Josh Crosby (10th, 88), took third with a 361.
T.F. North finished fourth (386) behind two-time sectional qualifier Dennis Minefee’s seventh-place 84.
“The greens separated the boys from the men today,” Minefee said. “They played fast and were hard to judge because it was so windy.”
Bremen (404), Hillcrest (411) and Tinley Park (416) rounded out the team standings.
