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GRAYSLAKE – Over 24 hours after the Richmond-Burton boys golf team originally teed off to start play at the Grayslake Central Class 2A Sectional, it finally got the news they were looking for; they were heading to state.
The Rockets, who completed all of their rounds on Monday before play was suspended due to rain, were in attendance at Stonewall Orchard Golf Club in Grayslake to nervously scoreboard watch as other teams completed their rounds.
When all scores were recorded, the Rockets' score of 324 held up for a second-place finish and the first trip to state in school history.
“It’s an amazing feeling, I’m so proud of the kids,” R-B coach Brad Tichenor said. “They played good golf, it was stressful today, but we made it. I’m so happy for them.
Richmond-Burton was among eight teams that finished their rounds on Monday, but would have to wait it out for the other four teams to finish. Of the last four teams, only Vernon Hills managed to get in the top three, finishing third with a 327. St. Francis won the sectional with a 317.
The Rockets got a huge boost from individual sectional champion Jordan Hahn. Hahn shot a 2-under 70 to take the title, six shots better than any other golfer. Joey Pegura was second on the team with an 81, Tim Duex shot an 85 and Nick Becker rounded out the top-four scores for R-B with an 88.
All four players are seniors, and the same four had their scores count at the BNC tournament, regional and now sectional.
“The four of us have played together since sophomore year, and every year we’ve gotten better and better,” Duex said.
“It feels really good, after being so nervous if we were even going to make it to get second. We know we do have a chance at state now.”
The only other local team to compete at the sectional was Hampshire. The Whip-Purs finished in ninth place with a 352. Drew Doran led the team with an 86.
No other local individuals advanced to state either. Harvard’s Tyler Garafol was among eight golfers that tied at 81, for the last two available spots of individuals not on the three qualifying teams.
Garafol bogeyed the first hole with six other golfers and advanced to the second playoff hole where two players pared to advance.
“This was my first time ever in a playoff and as well as I played, it just wasn’t the end result that I wanted,” Garafol said.
Other local scores included Harvard’s Jeremey Coffman shooting an 82, and Marengo’s Hunter Simonini with an 83, both just missing a shot at the playoff. Edward Salvadore shot an 84 to lead the three Marian Central golfers and Jake Doherty shot an 87 for Johnsburg.
Game Ball
Tim Duex Richmond-Burton, senior
Duex shot an 85 to record the third highest score for the Rockets and help his team advance to state.
The Number 8 -
The number of golfers that competed in a playoff for the last two spots advancing to state. Among the eight was Harvard's Tyler Garafol.
The Big Moment
Garafol missed a putt for par on the second playoff hole, which eliminated him from state contention. Garafol shot an 81 to reach the playoff, the best score of local individuals competing at the sectional.