St. Charles Ladies Tournament tees off

Published: July 16, 2009
Kane County Chronicle

ST. CHARLES – After the cancellation of last year’s St. Charles Ladies Tournament, Pottawatomie golf course pro Jim Wheeler had good reason to be happy on the tournament’s first day.

“It’s a perfect day,” he said, “and so far, [the golfers] are having some fun, which is what it’s all about.”

Thirteen golfers hit the greens for a qualifying round of sorts for the 18-hole, two-day tournament. Diana Sandberg led the pack with a one-over-par 38, thanks in large part to a confidence-boosting eagle on the first hole.

“It was a total fluke,” Sandberg said, explaining that as she hit her ball toward the green, she lost sight of where it landed. Turns out, it landed in the hole.

“I was so surprised. [It was] definitely a good day.”

Following her was five-time Ladies Tournament winner, Kathy Braun, shooting 44. Both Braun and Sandberg will play today again in the same foursome for a shot at the championship. Golfers will tee off at 9 a.m.

But Wheeler says they won’t be the only Ladies Tournament winners by the end of today. In an effort to make the tournament more accessible, Wheeler said he was placing each golfer into a division based on their Thursday score.

So by the end of play today, there will be an overall tournament winner, plus two additional winners for an A and B division of higher scoring golfers. Wheeler says this change in format and the word of mouth from this years contestants could help grow the event in the next few years.

“[Others] will see these ladies jumping in and having fun,” he said, “and they’ll get interested.”

But even without a ladies tournament last year, Wheeler kept things in perspective.

“I don’t know of any tournament that hasn’t had a year off for one reason or another,” he said. “I work too hard to get these ladies involved.”

Local foursome moving on

Published: July 7, 2008
Kane County Chronicle

WHEATON – Whenever St. Charles East's Kyle Cook has a good day on the greens, he often repeats something his coaches always say; "It's a good day for golf."

He wasn't alone; it was a good day him and three other local golfers as they shot through Cantigny Golf Club, hoping to qualify for the IJGA Chick Evans Junior Amateur Championship.

Batavia's Tim Schofield led the pack with a 12th-place, 3-over-par finish of 75. The senior said it was a good return-to-form performance for him as he learns to balance playing baseball and golf.

"It's pretty hard to get your mindset to change from baseball to golf," he said. "But now I'm finding my groove, getting my swing back."

Cook's final score was only two shots higher than Schofield's, but because of a competitive field, he placed 26th with 77.

Not that he was complaining.

"My irons were just going dead straight today," he said, "and my putter definitely saved me on the front end."

Cook's only bad hole came after his ball landed in bunker on the 14th hole. He penciled in a quadruple-bogey on the hole. Still, the finish was big for him, not only because it had been two weeks since he played, but some of his summer hang-ups were starting to work themselves out.

"The putter started working for me," he said, "I've been struggling with that all summer."

Also qualifying for the tournament was the pair of Geneva graduates – Jeff Paustian and Cole Oosthuizen. Paustian teed off early and his tiredness cost him a few double-bogeys on the front nine. But his game got better as the morning progressed.

"I was a little shaky," he said. "I was nervous after shooting 43 in the front but then I got 1-under par in the back."

Paustian finished 30th with a 78. Oosthuizen shot one stroke higher to place 35th, and like Paustian, he said his performance as good, not great. Oosthuizen said getting a double-bogey on his last hole didn't help.

"We've been struggling a bit lately," he said. "I've just been trying to get my confidence back."

His qualification helped, especially since missing the cut for this summer's Illinois State Junior Amateur Championship. He said he just needs to work on helping his game come back.

"I'm going to hit the range hard this week," he said.

Heat gets the best of golfers on 1st day

Published: June 23, 2009
Kane County Chronicle

BARRINGTON – Jeff Paustian’s first-day finish at the Illinois Junior Amateur Championship tournament was nothing to slouch about.

The Geneva graduate goes into today’s round in a five-way tie at 45th after shooting a 6-above par 77. Still, it wasn’t exactly the kind of finish he was hoping for.

“The last two years I shot a 76 on the first day,” he said, “so it’s a bit disappointing, but I’m certainly not out of it at 77.”

Paustian said the 90-degree heat tired him out earlier than he expected, causing him to bogey on three straight holes on the back nine. But he came around in the last three holes, bringing his score down with a birdie on two of his last three holes.

Paustian hoped he could carry over his later success and turn his score around in round two.

“This tournament is the best of the year,” he said of the Illinois Junior Golf Association event. “It’s it the most fun [and] the most challenging.”

For St. Charles’ Mitch Stuetelberg, his biggest challenge came from Mother Nature.

“As a golfer you usually don’t like the breeze,” he said after his round of 80. “But in this heat?”

Stuetelberg and fellow St. Charles golfer Keegan O’Rahilly agreed the tournament field and the Makray Memorial Golf Club course they played on weren’t pushovers either.

O’Rahilly finished in the early evening with a 79 thanks to a birdie on the 13th hole. Stuetelberg had two birdies, but three double bogeys to inflate his score.

“The greens seemed pretty slow uphill and quick downhill,” he said. “Even more than you’d think. It made putting really difficult.”

Geneva’s Andrew Cisco finished with an 81. All four Tri-Cities golfers will compete today for a top 50 spot overall in hopes of qualifying for the tournament’s final day on Thursday.

Stuetelberg said he had his ambitions set.

“I just want to get in the top 10,” he said. “I set my goals pretty high.”

Whether or not he achieves that goal, he shared some of Paustian’s sentiment on the tournament in general.

“It’s a fun tournament … because you’re playing some of the best golfers in the state,” he said.

Mistake costly for Geneva's Paustian

Published: June 15, 2009
Kane County Chronicle

BARTLETT – One double bogey was all it took to keep Geneva’s Jeff Paustian from taking home a plaque at the senior boys division of an Illinois Junior Golf Association Regional Tournament.

The recent Geneva graduate ended the day at Bartlett Hills on Monday in a three-way tie for third place with Sam Schmalz of Hampshire and Schaumburg’s Kenny Wienckowski, each shooting 74.

First place went to Barrington’s Brad Beutler with a 1-over par 72, while Stefan Grochowski of Naperville went home with runner-up honors at 73.

Paustian came out strong early in his round, taking the course’s back nine first and earning three birdies. But things started to get a little hairy on No. 8 – his 17th hole of the day.

“I started to get pretty tired,” he said, “and I just made a stupid move and bad shot.”

The mistake cost him a double bogey, but he said he’s trying to not let the bad hole get him down.

“I realized that I just have to stay positive all the way through,” he said.

It’s a lesson he says he can take to Augustana College, where he’ll be attending and playing golf in the fall.

“Because I graduated high school,” he said, “these tournaments are kind of like a glory run for me before college.”

Four St. Charles players also competed in the division, with Jonathan Woods topping them at 80, a score that tied him for 13th place with Lombard’s Jacob Waas.

For Woods, a particularly unforgiving 12th hole sealed his fate, as he scored a quadruple bogey on the par-4 hole.

“That 12th hole killed me,” he said. “It’s so tight and you just have to hit the fairway.”

Still, he felt like he had an overall “decent day,” saying that summer was the time to build upon his skills and start taking steps in the right direction.

“When you play in summer,” he said, “it’s so laid back. All you can do is be aggressive out there and just have fun.”

St. Charles’ Nick Maze finished with an 81, good for a three-way tie for 15th, while Cameron Verisario shot 83 and Keegan O’Rahilly shot 85.

“It was good to get the competitive experience,” Verisario said of the summer tournament. “You try harder.”

East girls heading south

Published: October 14, 2008

Kane County Chronicle

WEST CHICAGO – Despite coming in first at its conference and regional meets, the St. Charles East girls golf team returned to St. Andrews Golf Course in West Chicago with a visible sense of anxiety.

"I know all of them were nervous," Saints coach Rod Osborne said. "I could see it in their face."

East junior Jenny Niemiec confirmed as much.

"Today was a lot more nerve-wracking," she said. "On a scale of 1-to-10, conference was a three. Today was an eight or nine."

The Saints beat back those nerves qualified for this weekend’s IHSA State Meet on Monday by coming in second place at the St. Charles East Sectional with a score of 326. East finished five behind the sectional champs, Wheaton Warrenville South, and one stroke ahead of Hinsdale Central.

East will travel as a team to Makanda in deep southern Illinois, where the state meet will take place on Friday and Saturday at Stone Creek Golf Course in Makanda.

Niemiec led the Saints, shooting a 6-over par 77, which tied her with Wheaton Warrenville South leader Sara Skurla. The girls also tied for eighth place individually.

East senior Rachael Edwards shot an 80, Rebecca Norris carded an 84 and Nicole Rae added an 85.

Osborne credits the camaraderie of his team and its ability to challenge each other for the season-long success.

"They weren't flawless, but they hung in there," he said. "It's like cross country; we run in a pack."

East senior Gina Greco, who shot an 89 for the day, noticed the difference from last year immediately.

"This year, we've really matured and came together as a team," she said.

For St. Charles North, junior Marin Beagley continued to accomplish the goals she set for herself last summer, shooting 76 and coming in fifth among individual qualifiers for the state meet.

Like many of her competitors, Beagley noticed the added pressure of being the lone golfer to represent her school.

"It makes you work harder since you don't have a team to fall back on," she said.

The pressure forced her to focus on her game on a one-shot-at-a-time basis.

"I wouldn't say I was playing it safe," she said. "But I was definitely more careful."

Beagley did have the support of three of her teammates who came out to cheer her on.

"My mom told them not to cheer for me if I hit a good shot or to say anything if I messed up," she said. “But it was really nice to have them here."

Beagley tied for fourth place with Naperville North senior Marissa Miko and St. Francis sophomore Kayla Stueland.

Stueland felt more bittersweet about her advancement, since the rest of her team would not be moving on with her. St. Francis finished fourth as a team at 335, while Batavia (350) was sixth and Geneva (352) was seventh.

"I like having them around," Stueland said. “So it'll be sad not to have them [at state]."

Also among the individual advancers was Kaneland sophomore Hayley Guyton and Geneva senior Kim Connor, both at 79. Like Stueland, Connor was the only girl from her team to advance to state.

Geneva coach Eric Hatczel said that Connor's advancement, as well as the rest of his seniors' performance, had a sentimental subtext.

"My first year coaching was when they were all freshmen," he said. "It's been great to watch them grow."

After Connor's score, senior Kelsey Kale and junior Shannon Delaney shot best with an 86.

Batavia’s team placed two stroked better than Geneva, but freshman Tara Cullerton's score of 82 was not enough to qualify for state.

Bulldogs coach Lee Pedraza said the team need to work on its short game. But for a team whose two leaders, Cullerton and Kayla Lehman (85), are freshmen, Pedraza sees a lot of potential.

"This is the first time we've made sectionals as a team," he said. "So there were a lot of nerves out there.

Warm feeling for East

Published: October 9, 2008

Kane County Chronicle

PLAINFIELD – The St. Charles East girls golf team has been on what seems like a season-long winning streak.

This one was a little bigger.

The Saints topped 10 other schools for the top spot at Wednesday’s IHSA Class AA Naperville Central Regional.

And it wasn't easy. Playing under overcast skies, with cool wind chills and at a Naperbrook Golf Course still soft and wet from the previous day's rainfall, posting good scores was an ambitious task.

"It was hard," East junior Jenny Niemiec said. "We haven't had this kind of weather all year."

Despite the difficulty, Niemiec led the Saints, shooting an 8-over par 80. Teammates Rachael Edwards (83), Nicole Rae (86) and Rebecca Norris (90) also contributed to the Saints’ victorious overall score of 339.

Behind the Saints, Wheaton Warrenville South shot 344 to take second, while St. Francis took third at 356. All three teams will advance to Monday’s St. Charles East Sectional at St. Andrews Golf Course in West Chicago.

The Spartans advanced thanks to the medalist score (78) of sophomore Kayla Stueland. Lynn Dreisilker (87), Maggie Kilrea (92) and Grace Pinns (99) also chipped in for the Spartans.

"[This] is a big boost for our confidence to play well and know that we can do better," Stueland said.

Of the conditions, St. Francis coach Matt Walsh told his team to stay focused. "It's the same [bad conditions] for every girl," he said. "So tough it out."

East coach Rod Osborne had similar encouragement for the Saints, telling them not to concentrate on their team's rank or even their individual score.

"I always say their biggest competition is the course and their mental approach to it," he said, adding that the momentum from regionals and the  Saints’ Upstate Eight Conference victory last week should serve them well at sectionals.

Among individual sectional qualifiers, St. Charles North junior Marin Beagley placed first with her score of 79. The North Stars placed fifth as a team, with a score of 378, behind Naperville North (359).

Although North did not qualify as a team, Beagley is happy that she accomplished a goal she had for herself since the summer.

"[Advancing to sectionals] is definitely something I wanted to do," she said.

Like many of her opponents, Beagley tried to shut out the "frustrating" weather.

"I tried not to let it get to me," she said. “Because I didn't want to have to make excuses for myself."

Luedtke leads west to 1st place

Published: October 8, 2008

Kane County Chronicle

PLAINFIELD – West Aurora senior Kurtis Luedtke paced around the dining room of the Links at Carillon Golf Course with one hand in his hair and the other covering his mouth.

From a distance, he looked downright nervous as he watched Tuesday’s IHSA Class 3A Naperville Central Regional scores tallied.

When it was all over, the anxiety turned into a palpable excitement.

“Oh my gosh,” he said. “[This] has never happened to our school before.”

Thanks in part to Luedtke’s top individual score of even-par 71, West Aurora’s boys golf team placed first out of 10 schools, advancing to Monday’s Bartlett Sectional.

The victory was as close as it was unexpected. West’s final score was 304, which included Mark Torres shooting a 76, Nick Pavlik’ 78 and Brian Kirhofer’s 79. The Blackhawks edged out Wheaton Warrenville South at 305 and Benet Academy at 306.

Marmion’s Nick Lappin tied for first among individual qualifiers with Glenbard West’s Kyle Kochevar, shooting 75, to qualify for sectionals as an individual. He said that he was happy with his results, but admitted to being a little let down that his team would not be joining him for his first trip to sectionals.

Marmion placed sixth overall, shooting 315. Surprisingly, No. 1 golfer Bryce Emory did not post a low enough score to count for the Cadets’ total. Instead, Joe Lappin and Brian Hoss each shot 79, while Tim Johnson shot 82. Emory shot 84.

Lappin hopes to perform as strongly as he did in regionals next week.

“I’ll do the same thing I did today,” he said, “just go out and have fun.”

Batavia, meanwhile, placed fifth overall, edging out Marmion at 314, one better than its conference tournament score a week ago.

The Bulldogs’ top four showed remarkable consistency, led by Collin Huber and Shawn Steurer at 78 and Tim Schofield and John Vacek at 79. But with individual qualifying scores topping out at 77, the Bulldogs ended their season.

But the story of the day was the Blackhawks. Even West coach Jay Bauer was surprised by the results – he predicted that his school would place ninth before the match.

“In my 16 years, we’ve never gone out to the sectionals [as a team],” he said. “I'm speechless.”

If Luedtke’s earlier anxiety showed anything, it was the amount of pressure inherent to postseason golf. But Bauer said that is unavoidable in golf.

“Most of the pressure is self-inflicted,” he said.

Win or lose, Bauer said he is proud of the way his team played all season.

“I think anything we do from here will be a positive,” he said.

Wetsch’s top score leads East to 2nd

Published: October 3, 2008

Kane County Chronicle

WEST CHICAGO – Neuqua Valley completed its undefeated season in consistent fashion Thursday at the Upstate Eight Boys Golf Conference Meet.

With an overall score of 301, Neuqua had all four of its top players – Stephen Powers (74), Kyle Geist (75), Stephen Marbach (75) and Tim Brackett (77) ranked in the top-five individual scores.

But St. Charles East golfer Jordan Wetsch took the top spot from all of them, shooting an even-par 71, including a pair of birdies, on St. Andrews Golf Course.

Wetsch’s career-low score helped the Saints finish second with 311.

“I was just trying to blur it all out and concentrate,” he said.

That turned out to be more difficult for many golfers, including his teammate, Wes Apple, who shot 79. While not upset with his score, he said that he knows he could have scored better on the back nine.

“Even if I hit a good putt, it would roll away,” he said.

His list of things to practice on for the IHSA regional tournament on Tuesday became a familiar criticism of the day: “I need to get more consistent with my swing and putt better,” Apple said.

Still, Saints coach John Stock was impressed with placement.

“Neuqua had a great team this year,” he said. “We had to play perfect golf [to beat them], and we played excellent golf.”

Bartlett finished third behind East, shooting 329, followed by Waubonsie Valley (330) and Larkin (334).

South Elgin placed sixth, one stroke behind Larkin, which team leader Drew Buddle found “disappointing.” Like Apple, his frustrations involved making his putts in the back nine.

Nonetheless, Buddle is confident the Strom can improve their standings at regionals.

“We’re pretty familiar with the Highlands,” he said, referring to the Highlands Golf Course in Elgin, where the regionals will be played. “A lot of us practice there, so I really think we could shape up.”

St. Charles North shot 339, finishing behind South Elgin. Coach Rob Prentiss cited the sudden loss of Chris Thomas, their top player, at the beginning of the season as a blow that hurt his team in “both scores and leadership.”

“Our kids have tried hard all year,” he said, “but we’re still learning to compete.”

Prentiss is optimistic, saying that the season will help get his younger players some valuable experience for next year.

And as an added consolation, North’s junior-varsity took second place behind Neuqua. 

East wins UEC Girls Golf Meet convincingly

Published: October 1, 2008

Kane County Chronicle

WEST CHICAGO – With cool temperatures and ominous skies, some of the golfers and coaches were worried that St. Andrews Golf Course in West Chicago would be troublesome.

But conditions didn't bother St. Charles East senior Rachael Edwards.

"I just had to think a little more," Edwards said.

The thinking paid off well for Edwards and the Saints, who took first place Tuesday in the Upstate Eight Conference Girls Golf Meet.

East coach Rod Osborne said that he was proud of his girls' overall score of 322.

"This is a good stepping stone toward the postseason,” Osborne said.

Edwards and teammate Jenny Niemiec tied for the top overall score, 77. They both shot 40 on the first nine and improved to 37 on the back.

Sophomore Nicole Rae was just one stroke behind at 78 while Rebecca Norris provided East’s fourth score, 90.

Niemiec said that the victory will help her team rediscover its confidence.

"We had a downfall a couple of weeks ago," Niemiec said. "But these scores help out a lot."

Not far down the team standings was East’s crosstown rival, St. Charles North, which shot 354 to place second.

Led by Marin Beagley, who shot a 78, North coach Chris Patrick was complimentary of his leaders. KK Barr was second for North (86) and Miranda Fencl was next with a 88.

"Our top three girls played extremely well," he said, "and we're getting better."

Beagley seemed to embody that improvement – even throughout the round.

"I know in the front [nine] I wasn't making anything," she said, in reference to her putting, "But in the back I started hitting them."

Beagley remembered how the conference tournament last year ended much differently.

"Last year, I think I shot a 92," she said, "so [this] is a big improvement for me."

Patrick said Beagley’s confidence is soaring.

"She's starting to believe in herself,” he said.

The South Elgin/Streamwood/Bartlett co-op came in third place, shooting 360. Carly Schneider made it to the leaderboard alongside Beagley, shooting 78.

Her coach, Tim Prendergast, said he was happy the team came in third place since the competition was so close.

Like most of the other coaches, he hopes to build upon his team's strengths at next week’s regionals.

"Next week will be very similar," he said in reference to the competitive level on the course, "except that the stakes will be higher. We have to try to have all four girls clicking."

Batavia golfers consistent as always

Published: September 24, 2008

Kane County Chronicle

Photo Credit: Rob Winner

ELBURN - “Consistency” was the word du jour Tuesday afternoon at Hughes Creek Golf Course as the Batavia boys golf team beat Kaneland, 156-170

For Batavia, consistency meant another overall score in the 150s.

“Anything in the mid-150s is a decent day for us,” Batavia coach Tim DeBruycker said, which would imply a pretty decent season for the Bulldogs. Their best score this year is 150, and their worst is a respectable 158.

“We’ve been pretty much the same all season.” DeBruycker said.

Batavia’s Shawn Streurer took top honors of the day, scoring 36, while teammate Tim Schofield placed third with 38.

“I had a couple of bad holes,” Schofield said – despite starting well with a two-putt birdie – adding he is “playing more of a mental game,” now.

Streurer mirrored that sentiment, saying that since the beginning of the season, there’s more thinking involved in his game.

“You really start to think through your shots and make smart decisions,” he said.

Batavia has only one more Western Sun Conference match remaining, against DeKalb, which DeBruycker hopes to perhaps break some of the consistencies in his team for the better.

“Shawn and Tim are leading the way,” he said, “but I’d also like to see some other players break through.”

For Kaneland, consistency has been less favorable, again losing on its home course.

“We haven’t played well in conference yet,” coach Mark Meyer said, “especially at home.”

Curtis Lubic did shoot an impressive 37, taking second overall.

“I’ve been hitting my driver well,” he said. “I was in a good rhythm today.”

Playing alongside Streurer, Lubic said he was hoping Steurer would miss his final putt and tie with him for first.

“I wasn’t rooting against him or anything,” he said laughing. “I’ve played with Shawn for the last three years. It was just a friendly competitive thing.”

Hayley Guyton (43) shot Kaneland’s second-best score of the day. But that didn’t even make it into Batavia’s top five.

The Knights have three more conference matches remaining, two of which are at home. Meyer hopes his team will show some more confidence playing on their home course.

“We certainly don’t have that problem anywhere else,” he said. “If we could take a few of those [matches], it’d be a good end to a slow start.”