Glenbrook South’s Prchal pursuits national tournament

Updated: July 19, 2011 12:01PM

Forgive Quinn Prchal for setting his sights higher.

The Glenbrook South senior qualified for the Illinois State Junior Amateur earlier this month, but he’s skipping this week’s tournament for a chance at playing the U.S. Junior Amateur.

Prchal wants everybody to know how much he loves this state’s premier tournament, but his schedule forced him to make a difficult decision this year.

At this stage of his career, he’s taking his talents national. He was scheduled to play Tuesday in a qualifier at Fieldstone Golf Club in Auburn Hills, Mich. The main event is July 18-23 at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, Wash.

“In no way do I want to dismiss this state junior because it’s a great event,” he said of the tournament that began Tuesday at Barrington’s Makray Memorial. “I’ve been beaten up at Makray a couple of times, but it didn’t work out this year. I would love to play it, if it did.”

Prchal teed it up in town last week.

He was among the giants of junior golf at Beverly Country Club at the Western Junior Amateur. But an 84-77 left him on the wrong side of the cut at the four-day tournament, which was won by Houston-area’s Connor Black, who carded a 1-over 285.

Still, Prchal, one of the best players from Illinois, appreciated the opportunity to play at the oldest junior golf tournament in the country.

“I was fortunate to get in,” he said. “I was one of the last players into the field. It was a good experience, and I was able to take away the positives. I will work on what I didn’t do well.”

Prchal lamented his inability to hit fairways, but he appreciated his craft around the greens. But it wasn’t enough to make the cut on the South Side.

“I need to make sure I hit more fairways,” he said. “Beverly is a tight golf course, and if you don’t hit the ball in the right spot, you will have to chip out. When I was in the fairway, I was able to score well.

“But I did putt well, and I played well around the greens. I was happy to be in the field, and I think the experience will help me in the future.”

Prchal tied for 11th at the Class 3A State Meet last year as a junior, and he will be one of the favorites to win the title this season. He was one of six non-seniors who finished in the top 11 last year. All of Prchal’s teammates from last year’s Titans postseason lineup graduated.

“I am continually improving my short game,” he said. “That’s a strong part for me. I am working hard to be more consistent with my golf swing. I want to hit more fairways and greens.”

Prchal’s summer schedule also will include some AJGA tournaments around the Midwest, and he expects a lot of himself.

“I have a similar schedule as last summer, but I am trying to break through this year and win,” he said. “I was close last year, but that’s my goal this year.”

College golf could be in Prchal’s future, but he’s trying not to look too far ahead.

“I don’t have much information about that,” he said. “We will see how it works out. My immediate focus is to play well summer and then in the high school season.”

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