Marmion senior Regan Konen successfully defends Class 2A individual title after crazy second day

Regan Konen wanted three things from his final trip to the Weibring Golf Club. He wanted to enjoy his last trip to Normal, play well enough to earn his second individual Class 2A title and do it without much pressure on him.

The Marmion senior succeeded at the first two things.

A few playoff holes to decide the title put a damper on the final goal.

“Those playoff holes definitely turned my game plan a little sideways,” Konen said. “But it was awesome nonetheless.”

After shooting a 2-under 69 on the second of two rounds to tie for the lead, Konen used a birdie on the second playoff hole to end his high school career as a two-time Class 2A state champion.

“It’s special and I’m just super grateful that I was able to get it done,” Konen said. “It doesn’t change who I am as a person. But it’s special and I’m just really grateful to be able to say I won it twice.”

The 2023 state title winner came into the second day of the competition in the top five after posting an even-par 71 in the first round. While Konen didn’t look at the scoreboard and add to the pressure, he knew he was up there with Lemont’s Joey Scott and Wheaton Academy’s Owen Coniaris and Ben Patel.

After starting the day with a bogey on the 10th hole, Konen bounced back with a birdie on the next hole. He made par on every hole afterward to keep him even through the front nine holes, which was something he felt was great considering how he thought he played.

On the final three holes of the front half, Konen said he felt something click and that’s when he found his rhythm.

“That’s when I thought that there could be a chance that I was close,” Konen said. “It was good, but I knew it wasn’t enough. And so I just try to build off that momentum I got after, kind of feeling like I got something going there.”

The change in rhythm was evident in how he started his back nine. Konen shot a 4-under on his first three holes, including an eagle on the par-5 second hole.

“That was huge for me,” Konen said. “I just felt like I was right back in it. I didn’t know where Owen or Ben or anyone else stood, but I just felt like that was pretty close and I was just trying to keep on putting the pedal to the metal and see how long I could go.”

The stretch gave him a two-shot lead over Coniaris and Patel, who both finished the second round with 2-under 140s. Konen’s lead held up all the way to the second-to-last hole.

On the eighth hole, Konen said he hit a couple of poor shots and got a bit distracted by his thoughts, which led to a double bogey and set him back into a three-way tie. After a par on the final hole for a 69 on the day, which was his best round ever at the state meet, Konen walked away knowing he either was in a playoff or had fallen just short of his goal.

“It was awesome and frustrating at the same time,” Konen said. “I heard I was in a playoff, so I was grateful to be in that situation, but also frustrated because I had it. But then a few things went down on eight and it just shows how hard it is winning.”

Konen and the two Wheaton Academy golfers headed to No. 10 for the first playoff hole. Each of them putted twice on the green to settle for par. Konen came close to winning the title on his second shot when it bounced off the flag. The bounce, however, put him about 15 feet away from the hole.

Konen won his second straight state title on the second playoff hole. After hitting his “best drive of the day,” it came down to how each of the three golfers hit their wedge shots to reach the green.

“I saw Ben went long and then Owen hit it to about 15 feet out and I was able to stick a wedge within a foot, which was super nice,” Konen said. “I just knew that Owen had to either make his putt or I could be able to just tap mine in for the win and that’s what ended up happening.”

Unlike his first state title, Konen had his teammates around him. The Cadets finished sixth in the team standings.

“It was special to have the team down there and all the guys watching me and being there on the playoff holes,” Konen said. “Just being able to all be there together for the last two days as a team, that was amazing. And to add a win on top of it was remarkable. I can’t be more grateful to have all these accomplishments and to end with a state title.”