Some of Grant Labedz’s favorite golfing memories while growing up were the family outings at Ruth Lake Country Club in Hinsdale.
The family, encouraged by parents Michael and Deanna Labedz, formed an ideal foursome. Their son Grant Labedz is a now a senior on Hinsdale Central’s defending state champion Class 3A boys golf team. Daughter Madison Labedz was a sophomore on the Red Devils’ JV girls golf team.
Madison Labedz shot an 82 on Sept. 30 at the West Suburban Conference meet at the Village Greens of Woodridge. That score would have been good enough for fourth place in the varsity tournament and she would have been Hinsdale Central’s No. 3 scorer on the varsity.
“We played as a family a lot,” Grant Labedz said. “We would go out and have fun. When we were young, we had family scrambles. We would go out as a family and just get into the game.”
Golf has become more than a hobby for the Labedz family. Grant and Madison Labedz support each other when they play together in the same tournament.
“We’re competitive. After I’m done (playing in a tournament), I’ll watch Grant,” Madison Labedz said. “I love it. It’s nice to be able to see Grant play and see what he’s accomplished.”
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Grant and Madison Labedz played in eight tournaments together over the summer. Five were on the Mid-American Junior Golf Tour and three were with the Illinois Junior Golf Association. Their best day was June 17, when Grant Labedz won the IJGA Sectional Boys 16-18 division at Maple Meadows with a 74. Madison shot an 86 for third place in the Girls 14-15 division.
Before joining the golf teams at Hinsdale Central, Grant and Madison Labedz pursued other passions. Grant Labedz played baseball through the seventh grade and Madison enjoyed horseback riding and cheerleading during middle school.
Grant and Madison Labedz share a competitive spirit in head-to-head competitions at Ruth Lake. While Madison Labedz can’t drive off the tee as far as Grant, they challenge each other in putting competitions on the practice green.
“He works really hard,” Madison Labedz said. “We’re usually neck and neck (at putting).”
At the West Suburban Silver boys golf meet on Sept. 29, Grant Labedz shot a 4-over-par 76 on Sept. 29 for the champion Red Devils (292). He tied junior Matt Windgren as Hinsdale Central’s third scorer, while teammate Brendan O’Reilly was the medalist with a 67.
Grant Labedz was set to open the postseason at the Class 3A Glenbard West Regional Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Village Links. The Devils are favored to advance into the St. Charles East Sectional Monday, Oct. 12, at St. Andrews in West Chicago.
Grant Labedz placed 50th in last year’s state meet and was the Devils’ No. 6 scorer.
Twitter @geomwilcox