Boys Golf: Led by Waugh brothers, Yorkville sending team to sectionals for first time since 2013

BRISTOL – Jonathan Waugh wrapped up his round, turned in his scoreboard and joined a circle of happy Yorkville teammates.

They're joining him next week.

Waugh, a Yorkville senior, is heading to his fourth sectional golf meet, and he has company. Led by Waugh and younger brother Ryan Waugh, the Foxes took second at Tuesday's Class 3A Yorkville Regional at Blackberry Oaks.

Advancing its team to sectionals for the first time since 2013, Yorkville will be back at Blackberry Oaks next Tuesday.

"It's just really cool for us to make it," said Jonathan Waugh, who shot a 3-over par 75. "Every year it's like 'Can we make it this year, we can do it.' To finally do it is really cool. I'm excited to be back here again, to have that home-course advantage. We'll see what we can do."

Ryan Waugh shot 74, just edged by Plainfield North's Todd Daugherty (73) for medalist honors. Ty Kukielka shot a 91 and Nick DiVito 94 for Yorkville's 334 total, which just nipped Oswego East's 336. Plainfield North won the regional title going away, with a 314.

"It's exciting," Ryan Waugh said. "We knew it was going to be close and this home-course advantage would help us even more. We came out prepared to shoot all good scores, we got it done and I'm super excited."

Oswego East, which lost just one dual meet all year – to Plainfield North, by three shots – and took second last week at conference, fell short of advancing its team. But the Wolves will be well-represented next week.

Juniors Gavin Hjelle (75), Camden Bonney (83) and Michael Hugelier (84) all are moving on. Hjelle, medalist at conference last week, shook off a tough front nine with two double bogeys and was in position to take the regional title until bogeys on 17 and 18.

Hjelle went after his birdie putt on 18 to try to advance the team, his comeback parr putt lipping out.

"Not as good as conference but I hung in there and played pretty well," said Hjelle, a three-time sectional qualifier. "Off the start it was tough, pretty windy out there, I couldn't hit my driver straight so I worked with what I had. I'm hoping to play a little better next week."

Ryan Waugh nearly added medalist honors to his day. He made a 20-foot birdie putt on the third hole and also birdied the par 5 seventh to make the turn at even par. But Waugh bogeyed No. 16 and 17, and Daugherty made a late charge with three birdies in his last six holes.

"I was right there, but you have to give credit to Todd," Waugh said. "The pressure got to me a little bit but I made a lot of shots today. It equaled out."

Daugherty won his second straight individual regional title, and led Plainfield North to its first team regional title in program history. Plainfield North last year was beaten by Neuqua Valley on a fifth-score tiebreaker.

"I knew where I stood, knew I was playing well all the way. I was just trying to post a score and play well," Daugherty said. "The important thing is the team, that's all that matters."

Jonathan Waugh, who was at 3-over after nine Tuesday, came in strong with a birdie on No. 11 and seven straight pars.

"I was four-over through six and had to battle the rest of the way. Didn't make a few putts down the stretch but it's all good," Waugh said. "I'm excited to be back here again next week."

Oswego, which will host next week's regional, just missed advancing its top three golfers. Riley O'Connor, Jack Rimington and Jacob Kelly each shot an 85, missing the cut by one shot. Oswego's 341 was good for fourth.

"Rough day for the Panthers; just a ton of missed opportunities," Oswego coach Chad Pohlmann said. "I counted 10 missed putts inside four feet and we had probably seven to 10 penalty strokes on the front nine. We made the turn, we were right there, we just never could get going."