Story posted Friday, October 2, 2009
Knights Complete Perfect Season With Crown
By BOBBY CHILVER Journal Sports
Prospect boys golf left little doubt who the best team in the Mid-Suburban League is Tuesday.
After sweeping the regular season with a perfect 11-0 dual record, the Knights put a finishing touch on the fall with the MSL conference championship Tuesday afternoon at Poplar Creek Country Club in Hoffman Estates.
Led by Tyler Beyak's 77, Derek Leeney's 78 and Jimi Poulos' 79, Prospect scored a 315 to outpace the 11 other teams and take the MSL crown.
"It was a nice performance, we're very pleased with the results," Prospect coach Tom Martindale said, noting the undefeated season. "It's quite the accomplishment for these kids."
Barrington finished seven strokes back with a 322 for second and Fremd was third with 328.
Viking senior Sean Jones won the individual title, shooting a 76, one stroke in front of second place medalist Beyak.
Leeney's 78 was good for fourth place individually, Poulos was fifth and Matt Maloney tied for ninth with an 81. Cael Kiess also shot an 82 and Mike Sokolik an 84 for the Knights. All six took home all-conference honors even though only the top four scores counted toward the team title.
Martindale got consistent efforts from all six of these players throughout the fall as it seemed a new guy stepped up each day.
"It was nice that all of them could be part of winning it all and also get all-conference," Martindale said.
He said he knew this season would be a special one from the start, even as early as last October. That was when the Knights were eliminated in last year's sectionals.
"On the way home the kids said 'we want to get better,'" Martindale remembered. "They started it."
Now they'll look to finish the job this October. Prospect will play at the Hilldale Regional this Tuesday but has some stiff competition in two-time defending state champ St. Viator, as well as Hersey, Hoffman and Fremd, playing on their home course.
"We have a challenge ahead of us," Martindale said.
Also noteworthy is the fact that the Prospect frosh/soph team also took the MSL title and also finished the season with a perfect dual record.
Ryan Kowalski led the team Tuesday, shooting a 74 for the individual title. Jeff Blethen carded a 77 for second place and Ryan Maloney shot an 80 for sixth place.
As for the rest of Tuesday's varsity field, Hoffman Estates (331) took fourth and Wheeling managed a 338 for fifth place despite having one of their top players, Jack Ferguson, out with an illness.
Wildcat freshman Zach Nauert led the team with a seventh place 80, proving he'll be a force on the MSL golf circuit for many years to come.
Schaumburg (341) was sixth, Palatine (345) seventh, Conant (347) eighth, Rolling Meadows (354) ninth, Hersey (359) tenth, Buffalo Grove (363) 11th and Elk Grove (371) 12th.
Palatine's Bryan Bartyzel, Conant's Nikhil Patel, Rolling Meadows' Kyle Gentile, Buffalo Grove's TJ Wrzesinski and Elk Grove's Adam Dill all shot 85s to lead their team's effort.
Kevin Brawley led Hersey with an 86.
Here's a listing of where Journal-area teams will be this Tuesday at regionals:
* Fremd Regional at Hilldale Golf Course: Hersey, St. Viator, Buffalo Grove, Conant, Hoffman Estates, Prospect, Fremd, Palatine, Rolling Meadows, Schaumburg.
* Elk Grove Regional at Fox Run Golf Links: Maine West, Elk Grove, Leyden, Maine East, Maine South.
* New Trier Regional at Winnetka Golf Club: Glenbrook South, Notre Dame, Niles West, Wheeling.
All three regionals feed into the Glenbrook North Sectional, played Monday, Oct. 12 at Sportsman's Country Club in Northbrook.
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