After winning the Central Suburban North’s frosh/soph tournament as a sophomore a year ago, Henry Knez said he knew he wanted to set his sights higher.
Going into the first week of the state series, the junior was listed as the team’s No. 2 player in his first season on varsity behind senior Daniel Cole.
Glenbrook North coach Justin Gerbich said Knez has the right mind-set to succeed in high school.
“He hangs in there,” Gerbich said. “Even when he’s not hitting it his best, he finds a way to score.”
Knez said he’s thankful for the opportunity to show how he can help the Spartans.
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“This is where I wanted to be,” he said. “I worked really hard over the summer, playing in a lot of tournaments and practicing to get here. It’s exciting. I knew I had the game, but I had to prove it. It’s cool to see.”
Knez carded a 79 at the Class 3A New Trier Regional on Tuesday, Oct. 6, to help the Spartans finish third (303) and advance as a team to the Conant Sectional on Monday, Oct. 12.
Glenbrook South
Jarrett Prchal has a good mentor for the game of golf.
Prchal is the younger brother of Quinn Prchal, a 2012 graduate of Glenbrook South. Quinn Prchal tied for fourth at the Class 3A state tournament as a senior in 2011. The next summer, he won the Illinois State Amateur before going to college at Princeton, where he plays golf.
“He’s helped me a lot, especially with my short game,” said Jarrett Prchal, a sophomore on the Titans. “Things like my putting stroke, reading greens, chipping.”
Glenbrook South coach Steve Gale said Jarrett Prchal reminds him of Quinn Prchal in at least one way.
“They are both students of the game,” Gale said.
Jarrett Prchal said he is thoughtful and careful about how he approaches each hole, much like his brother.
“We both try to figure out the best place to avoid,” Jarrett Prchal said. “Neither one of us is too aggressive because we don’t want to make big numbers. It’s something I’ve worked on.”
Jarrett Prchal (81), junior Kevin Paek (72), senior Grant Reese (78) and junior Charlie Nikitas (79) advanced out of the Class 3A New Trier Regional as individuals on Tuesday, Oct. 6, at Winnetka Golf Club. The Titans took fourth as a team (310) and didn’t advance to the Conant Sectional as a team. The sectional is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 12.
Twitter: @harnesspreps