Boys golf: Young's Whitmore a rising star

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"Tiger-esque," is how Young coach Cole Hyland described the Chicago area's latest golf prodigy, freshman Omari Whitmore.

Those who saw his performance Saturday wouldn’t disagree.

Especially after Whitmore carded a one-over-par 71 Saturday afternoon to win the 34-team Fenton Invitational at White Pines Golf Course in Bensenville.

"His swing is so fluid and he just explodes through the ball," Hyland said. "Mentally he’s like Tiger [Woods]; he’s ice-cold. Nothing rattles him; his course management is perfect, you never have to tell him what to do."

Hyland got a few calls before the season telling him of Whitmore’s prodigious talents. Watching Whitmore’s consistent play every day, he appreciates his approach.

"He’s got a great torque with his swing and he always knows where to go with the ball," Hyland said.

Whitmore put on quite a display with 32 on the front nine, nailing birdies on No. 5 and No. 7.

"I just stayed focused, kept my hands back and didn’t swing too hard," said Whitmore, who had 12 putts on the front nine and 19 on the back.

Whitmore, who has a two handicap, played in a few IJGA tournaments over the summer. He learned the game from his dad, Ron, a three-sport athlete at Evanston who carries a five handicap.

Other individuals just off the pace were: Lyons’ Brenten Blakemore, Benet’s Mike Kenning and Leyden’s Konrad Deka with 73s. Fenwick’s Mike Kwasigroch and Larkin’s Scott Hasen each had a 74.

Hinsdale Central took first with 302, while Wheaton South (310), Downers Grove South (311) and Neuqua Valley (313) gave chase.

The Red Devils were led by Sean Marqwardt (74), Brett Tomfohrde (75), Theo Lederhausen (76) and Cooper Travis (77).

“Our guys did a nice job,” Hinsdale Central coach Jess Krueger said. “We were runner-up the last two years so this is a nice way to start. It’s good psychologically to get four good scores here. The course is a little longer this year and the scores were up a little bit.”