Boys Golf: Lincoln-Way East claims 3A regional crown
By Logan Malloy For Sun-Times Media October 2, 2012 11:08PM
Trent Wallace, of Joliet Township, takes a shot from the rough of the 3rd hole for boys golf regionals at The Sanctuary golf course, Tuesday, October 2nd, 2012 in New Lenox, IL. | Gary Middendorf~For Sun-Times Media
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Updated: November 4, 2012 6:25AM
Some regionals are scarier than others.
With conference champions Lemont, Lincoln-Way Central and Lincoln-Way East, plus a slew of tough outs in Joliet Township co-op, Lockport and Providence, the Class 3A Lincoln-Way Central Regional shaped up to be a monster.
On a windy Tuesday at The Sanctuary, the 10-team field didn’t disappoint.
Lincoln-Way East, led by Jake White (74), Matt Coney (75), Victor Perez (76) and Matt Stoner (77), totaled a 302 for its second-best showing of the year. The Griffins outlasted runner-up Lockport (307) and top-seeded Lincoln-Way Central (316) for the title.
“We knew we had a tough regional. We knew we had to shoot good rounds today,” said White, a sophomore playing in his first regional. “This gives us a lot of confidence moving into sectionals.”
Joliet Township co-op (325), Providence (327) and Lemont (330) weren’t far behind, but only the top three teams advance to Monday’s Pekin Sectional, along with 10 individuals with the lowest scores from non-qualifying teams.
“This regional could be played 10 times and we could have 10 different winners,” East coach Ryan Pohlmann said.
Three sophomores dueled for medalist honors in a one-hole playoff, as Lockport’s Gehrig Hollatz defeated Porters teammate Luke Trent and Joliet’s Trent Wallace with a birdie on the 18th. All three shot 1-over 73s.
“My back nine was the highlight of my round,” Hollatz said of his 35. “I hit every single green and most of the fairways. I was striking the ball really good. This (finish) makes me think I can do well at sectionals.”
Lincoln-Way Central’s Bryant Bolden (74) tied White for fourth. Tony Kestel (77) also put together a solid score for the Knights.
Area individuals qualifying for the sectional include Providence’s Mickey Brick (76) and Will McCabe (83); Lemont’s Ray Cepele (79), Sam Marzo (82) and Ben Groselak (83); and Joliet’s Devyn Boswell (83).
