For much of his high school career, Lincoln-Way Central junior Juney Bai has stood in the shadow of teammate Sean Curran.
There’s no shame in that.
Curran, a senior who’s a Clemson recruit, finished as the Class 3A state runner-up in 2018 and then took 16th last season.
But at the Class 3A Lockport Regional, Bai stole the spotlight Tuesday, defeating Curran in a two-hole playoff at Broken Arrow Golf Course.
Both finished the round with a 74, forcing the playoff.
“It’s great,” Bai said. “Playing with Sean every day in practice helps. He pushes me. He was the guy to beat out here.”
It looked like Curran also was going to be tough to beat in the playoff, particularly after he smashed his tee shot on the first playoff hole 25 yards from the green.
As tempting as it was to try to match Curran’s drive on the 394-yard, par-4 No. 1 hole, Bai knew better than to even take the bait.
Few people can match Curran’s power.
“It was definitely demoralizing seeing that drive by Sean,” Bai said. “But I had to play my game.”
Bai’s tee shot drifted left of the fairway but the end result was the same as for Curran, who lipped out a 7-foot birdie putt and settled for par.
Curran again obliterated a drive on the second playoff hole, the 530-yard, par-5 No. 9. The ball, however, sailed into thick rough that was taller than Curran. He barely was able to get out, the ball trickling 5 feet.
That left the door open for Bai, who stuck an iron on his third shot only 8 feet from the cup. He drilled the putt for a birdie and the victory.
Curran was left holding his putter but took solace in the fact he lost to a teammate.
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“He’s a year younger and it’s good for him,” Curran said of Bai. “He’s been great.”
Bai confirmed it was sweet to drain that putt.
“I missed a similar putt on (No. 18) for a birdie,” he said. “I had the right line this time.”
Lincoln-Way Central coach Ryan Pohlmann pointed out that Bai is playing his best golf at the most important time.
“He won the Morris Invite on Saturday,” Pohlmann said. “He’s playing really, really well. He’s worked so hard. He’s driving the ball better and keeps progressing.”
Bai missed a birdie putt on No. 18 that would have clinched the win while Curran birdied the hole to force a playoff.
Curran said he didn’t feel any pressure to emerge the medalist.
“My mom always reminds me there are bigger things in the world out there than golf,” he said. “It was fun to go out there in a playoff.”
Lockport won the team title with a score of 308, followed by Lincoln-Way Central with 315, Lincoln-Way West with 319, Homewood-Flossmoor with 329, Lincoln-Way East with 333, Andrew with 359 and Joliet Township with 367.
Lockport and Lincoln-Way Central advanced as a team to Monday’s Pekin Sectional at Lick Creek Golf Course.
Lincoln-Way West advanced three individuals in Zack Phelps, Daniel Schaller and Aidan Healy. They carded a 76, 78 and 79, respectively.
Also advancing as individuals were H-F’s Keegan Buksa with a 78 and Lincoln-Way East’s Dylan Drogemuller with a 79.
Lockport was led by Vincent Greci III, two-time defending state champion Ben Sluzas, Brody McCarthy and Nathan Kwiatkowski. Greci shot a 76, Sluzas and McCarthy 77s and Kwiatkowski a 78.
“We’ve been struggling down the stretch,” Lockport coach Matt Eber said. “We’re hoping to peak at the end. Fortunately, we’ve been doing that the last few years.”