State Golf Finals begin Friday
By Kent McDill
Illinois Content Coordinator
The courses will be challenging, the weather will be challenging, and the competition will be challenging.
The Illinois High School Association boys and girls golf state finals occur this weekend, starting with first-round play Friday.
Here is a look at the competition in each class of action, beginning with boys Class 3A:
St. Viator chases its third consecutive Class 3A title, with defending state individual champion Joe Carbon back in the competition as well. Other teams returning to the state champions from last years group include fourth-place Lake Forest, sixth-place Quincy and seventh-place New Trier.
Lake Forest had the top sectional score, and New Trier tied St. Viator in sectional play earlier this week.
The Class 3A tournament is to be played at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington.
Class 2A:
This is the kind of argument baseball fans would probably enjoy: How long is Normal University’s title streak?
The boys tournament was broken up into three classes two years ago, and Normal has won each of the first two Class 2A titles. But before that, Normal University won the 2003 and 2004 Class A title, then won the 2005 and 2006 Class 2A title. So Normal has four consecutive 2A titles and six title seasons in a row.
It goes for No. 7 this year led by Logan Stauffer, who finished fifth individually last season. Wheaton Academy, which placed third at state last season, had the best regional and sectional scores this season.
Springfield Sacred Heart Griffin and Galesburg, which finished fourth and fifth a year ago, are back in the finals, as is sixth place Lemont and ninth place Dixon.
David Flynn of Wheaton Academy was the individual champion last season and returns, but he will be challenged by Alex Burge of Bloomington, who lost last year’s tournament by one stroke.
The Class 2A tournament is to be played at the Weiburg Golf Club at Illinois State University.
Class 1A:
Last year’s champion, St. Thomas More, failed to get out of sectionals, so a new champion will be crowned. But the next six team finishers from 2008 - Benton, Effingham St. Anthony, Rockford Lutheran, Lincolnwood, Peoria Christian and Mt. Carmel – all qualified.
The Class 1A tournament will be at Prairie Vista Golf Course in Bloomington.
Girls Golf
Class 2A
Last year, Marion won the title by two strokes over Homewood-Flossmoor. This year, Marion had the best regional score, and Flossmoor had the best sectional title.
Third place New Trier is back, as is fourth place Loyola Academy, fifth place St. Charles East and eighth place Wheaton Warrenville South.
Kris Yoo of Conant is the defending state champion.
The tournament will be played at Hickory Ridge Golf Course in Carbondale.
Class 1A
Effingham St. Anthony has won the first two Class 1A girls titles and is in line to win No. 3 this weekend. St. Thomas More finished second to Effingham St. Anthony both of the last two years and is back for this third year of split team competition.
In sectional play, Effingham St. Anthony had four golfers shot 73 or better.
Massac County, which finished fourth last year, had the top sectional score this season.
IN the individual competition, the top finisher from last year is Gabbi Schuerman of Decatur St. Teresa, who finished 10th in 2008. The top golfer from regional and sectional play was Rachel Powers of Quincy Notre Dame, whose sister Emily won consecutive individual titles in 2004 and 2005.
The Class 1A tournament will be played at Crab Orchard Golf Club in Carterville.
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