BOYS GOLFER: Lincoln-Way Central's Sean Curran is named Herald-News Golfer of Year

Lincoln-Way Central's Sean Curran has managed to find something positive out of what everyone agrees isn't positive.

Curran, a Clemson University recruit for golf, is something of a perfectionist when it comes to his golf game always looking for ways to improve every element of his game.

And if there's anything that's come out of the events of recent months is that there's been some time freed up in just about everyone's schedules.

"I try to get as much done as I can whenever I can," Curran said. "I don't like to take time off from playing. This year with school having a different schedule, having a day with no school has been kind of useful and lets me get some work in that I wouldn't be able to ordinarily."

Curran, who has been a force on the area golf scene for his entire career at Lincoln-Way Central, finished his high school career with a flourish winning this year's Pekin Sectional in a playoff.

Due to COVID-19 concerns, Curran and all other golfers will need get the chance to compete in the IHSA State Tournament this year, a place where Curran regularly excelled.

Although he didn't know it the time, Curran's 153 two-day total at the state tournament in his junior season would be his last go around at the state event.

He shined as a sophomore, when weather limited the tournament to just a one-day event. He shot a 69 to take runner-up honors. Oddly enough, Curran was looking up at Lockport's Ben Sluzas on both occasions as Sluzas was hoping to win the state tournament for the third time.

Curran exacted a little bit of postseason revenge on Sluzas and the rest of a loaded area field in the postseason. He finished in the runner-up position to teammate Juney Bai in the regional, before emerging as champion at the Pekin Sectional winning in a playoff over Pekin's Mason Minkel.

"I just tried to treat it like a normal tournament, I just wanted to go out there and have fun," Curran said. "It was my last high school event. I just kind of tried to look at it that way. I was happy with the round. I fought back, I got off to a bad start, but I kind of came back after that."

More importantly, Curran's effort spearheaded a team winning effort for Lincoln-Way Central as the Sectional.

And while everyone would have preferred to have an opportunity to have the top players all lock horns in one place for a chance at the state title, Curran took a pragmatic approach to dealing with the limited postseason.

"The season went pretty smoothly I thought, the only real difference was that there was no state," Curran said. "I was disappointed, at the same time, you had to realize a lot of other things were getting canceled. It's just the time that we're going through right now."

Curran is hoping his next step, Clemson University, isn't fraught with the same complications his final year of high school has had.

"I'm excited for it. I think Clemson is a great fit for me, as it get closer I get more and more excited for it," Curran said. "I am going to have to go down there and compete hard, its a good school and there are a lot of good players down there."