Sectional golf: Seniors lead Raiders to Crete-Monee crown
Bloomington won the title with all four scorers being seniors. Normal West
seniors Kyle Bragg and Brandon Anderegg, along with Normal Community
upperclassman Stu Wallace, all qualified for the state tournament as
individuals.
"(The seniors) played with that wisdom and experience you have to
have," BHS coach Rich Gordon said. "It was a very interesting and
difficult course, but a fair venue for a sectional.
"It was a decision-making course."
BHS made all the right decisions, especially on the back nine. Dustin
Thompson was 3-over-par after the first nine holes, but rallied on the back,
firing an even-par 36, including an eagle on No. 12 to tie teammate Brandon
Holtz, Bragg and Anderegg for third place, all with 75s.
The Purple Raiders' Matt Bova also was over par on the front before carding
an even-par 36 on the back for a 77 total.
"That to me shows your character," Gordon said of the back-nine
rallies by his players.
NCHS' Wallace finished with a 78.
The rain that soaked the Bloomington-Normal area was not a factor for the
golfers, with drops not falling until all the players were finished.
BHS won the team title with a 304 total, seven strokes ahead of Orland Park
Sandburg. Normal West finished fourth, missing the final team qualifying spot by
five strokes.
Also playing for BHS were David Strand (77), Grant Milling (82) and Alex
Titlow (85).
Larry Blatt of Sandburg was medalist, firing a 1-under-par 71. Sandburg and
Homewood-Flossmoor advanced as teams.
The state tournament is Friday and Saturday at The Den at Fox Creek in
Bloomington.