November 14, 2024
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Golf: 5 to watch across The Times area

By Brian Hoxsey
Ottawa's Seth Cooper golfs during the L-P Cavalier Golf Invitational on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022 at Seneca's Oak Ridge Golf Course in La Salle.

Ottawa's Seth Cooper golfs during the 2022 L-P Cavalier Golf Invitational. (Scott Anderson)

The Times coverage area has a wealth of quality high school golfers. Here are five we’re expecting to have big seasons, with some already off to a great start.

Drake Kaufman, sr., Ottawa

The reigning two-time Times Boys Golfer of the Year, Kaufman posted a 37.6 nine-hole average last fall, was a six-time medalist in regular-season meets and a Class 2A state qualifier for the second straight year. He began this season for the Pirates with a runner-up finish, carding a 73, at the La Salle-Peru Invitational on Thursday at Senica’s Oak Ridge.

Ottawa's Drake Kaufman

Ottawa's Drake Kaufman

Carson Zellers, sr., Marquette

Zellers hopes to take the next step this season after he finished fourth at the Tri-County Conference Meet, tied for fifth at the Class 1A St. Bede Regional and fell just three strokes short of qualifying for state at the Riverdale Sectional last fall at TPC Deere Run in Silvis.

Carson Zellers

Seth Cooper, jr., Ottawa

Cooper was steady throughout last season for the Pirates, collecting eight top-12 finishes, earning a spot at the Class 2A state meet after winning a playoff at sectionals and posting a 40.4 nine-hole average. His solid 79 helped Ottawa win the team title of the La Salle-Peru Invitational on Thursday at Senica’s Oak Ridge for the second straight season.

Ottawa's Seth Cooper

Caroline Cooney, sr., Ottawa

Cooney finished 21st in last season’s talent-filled Ottawa Invite at Deer Park Golf, then fired an 87 during the Class 2A Joliet Central Regional to claim the final individual sectional-qualifying spot. She shot a 46, good for third place, in the Pirates’ season-opening match against Joliet Catholic on Wednesday.

Ottawa's Caroline Cooney

Cole Park, sr., Streator

Park will look to build off a junior season in which he tied for second place at the Illinois Central Eight Conference Meet and qualified for the Class 2A sectionals after carding an 84, good for 13th place, at the Class 2A Geneseo Regional. This fall, he already has led the Bulldogs to consecutive ICE dual wins over Wilmington (36) and Peotone (41), earning medalist honors in each outing.

Cole Park (Charlie Ellerbrock)