BLOOMINGTON — Hinsdale Central’s six golfers combined to shoot a 260 on the front nine on the final day of the Class 3A state tournament at the Den at Fox Creek Golf Course on Saturday, Oct. 17. The Red Devils nearly let their 10-stroke, first-round lead slip away, but rebounded with a collective 222 on the back nine to beat New Trier by three strokes.
On the front nine, the only Hinsdale Central golfer to shoot in the 30s was Kansas-bound senior Drew Shepherd (38).
Grant Labedz put hit first two shots into water and then three-putted to score a 10 on the par-4 No. 6, one day after he birdied the hole.
“I tried to stay as positive as I could,” Labedz said. “On the next tee, I thought, ‘It’s a new hole; a new shot.'”
Shepherd had a 76 on Saturday and finished tied for 19th with teammate Kenneth Li at 157.
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Ellis Kritzer (92), who thought he played just six rounds with the varsity this season, subbed for fellow senior Max Bartuch, who shot 86 on Friday. Coach Jess Krueger told Kritzer on Oct. 14 that he would be making his first state appearance.
“This was awesome,” Kritzer said. “The whole summer, I’ve worked on trying to go to state. This is such a good team, it’s hard to find (a starting spot).”
Unheralded
The most surprising finish by a Hinsdale Central golfer was by junior Matt Wingren (77-79—156), who tied for 13th. Wingren was the Devils’ No. 6 golfer during the season and sat out the sectional after scoring an 81 at the regional.
Wingren and Shepherd carded the only rounds below 80 on Saturday for the Devils.
“He played well. He came up big for us,” Krueger said of Wingren.
Getting better
After finishing 62nd in his state meet debut in 2014, Lyons sophomore Patrick Akaniroj said he was disappointed after tying for 19th place on Saturday.
But after a moment, Akaniroj (78-79—157) realized that he has qualified for state each year of his high school career.
“That’s great, going 2 for 2 is unbelievable,” said Akaniroj, a Willow Springs resident. “I don’t think I played well, but it was iffy for me at the sectional (with a 77). At least I made it past that.”
Feeling at home
Maple Meadows, York’s home course, will remain under construction for another season, so the Dukes have renewed their agreement to return to Carriage Greens in Darien for 2016. York hosted five dual meets there this season, although the Dukes have a 14-mile commute one way.
“They have been nice to us,” coach Jim Borel said. “We’re lucky be there.”
Borel said Maple Meadows, which is about 5 1/2 miles away from the school, is expected to re-open in 2017.
Warm feeling
On Friday night, boys golf tournament officials decided to start the tournament on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., one hour later than scheduled. They hoped to play in warmer weather and the plan worked.
While it was 48 degrees at noon for the final round of the Class 3A boys state tournament, by the time trophies were awarded, temperatures were in the 60s.