Neuqua Valley makes its mark, places third in Class 3A

BLOOMINGTON — Neuqua Valley coach Bart Carbonneau kept his eyes on the Class 3A state leaderboard until he simply couldn’t take it any longer.

“I was watching it quite a bit until my guys got to hole 16, and then I quit,” Carbonneau said. “It was too much for my stomach to take. We kept going back and forth.”

Carbonneau’s nerves were settled soon enough. Neuqua Valley (311-326) placed third for the best finish in school history, trailing only now four-time defending champion Hinsdale Central (304-317) and New Trier (314-310).

“With how many changes we had from this year to the last, I didn’t think we’d be this good,” said Neuqua Valley junior Thomas Huang, who finished 13th individually at 12-over 156 (78-78). “We’ve been a lot better than we’ve ever been before.”

Nick Walker (72-86), Jack Vercautren (80-78) and Greg Crowley (81-79) joined Huang with the best rounds. Walker and Vercautren tied for 26th. Jack and Joe Richards also contributed.

“Third place, we definitely would have taken that coming into this weekend,” Vercautren said. “We’re all pleased with bringing home hardware, but we’re all a little disappointed knowing we left some shots out there and could have won it.”

Walker, ranked first on Day 1 with an even-par 72, struggled on the second day.

“Nick told me he was feeling a little nervous with the individual lead,” Vercautren said. “The nerves got to him a little bit, but we all picked him up after that. He led us on the first day and we’re happy (to return the favor).”

St. Edward’s Michael Mattas (75-74) won the Class 1A state championship with 5-over 149 at Prairie Vista in Bloomington.

Mattas, whose father Scott is an assistant coach, shot an 84 at sectionals. The individual cut to make state was an 83.

“This is a team victory,” Mattas said of his title. “I wouldn’t even be here without them. I played my worst round in three years at sectionals. If we didn’t go as a team, I wouldn’t have made it individually. I owe them a lot.”

St. Edward placed fourth, narrowly missing on a state trophy. Steve Poremba (21-over 165), Jason Allen (173) and Aaron Worf (175) tallied the next best scores for St. Edward.

“We obviously rode Michael’s back quite a bit the whole year,” St. Edward coach Gregory Winters said. “I’m real proud of the boys and being able to find four good scores.”

Mattas is the first individual state champion from St. Edward since Ralph Gierens accomplished the feat 50 years ago.

In Class 2A, Kaneland freshman Will Marshall placed fourth individually with 5-over 147 at Weibring Golf Club in Normal.

Mac Cowen of Aurora Central Catholic placed 37th with a 163.

Logan Malloy is a freelance writer for the Naperville Sun.