Rain doesn't stop Hersey's Starkman

Updated: March 22, 2011 4:14PM

An hour rain delay early Saturday at the Wheeling Invitational didn't throw Hersey senior Ryan Starkman off his game.

Starkman played five holes before the rain hit, but returned to finish at even-par 72 for a career-best round to win at the Traditions at Chevy Chase. After the delay, Starkman returned to the sixth hole after starting at No. 2 in the tournament's shotgun start.

"After my first hole (returning), the sixth hole had iffy conditions," Starkman said. "After that, it played beautifully. The course drained amazingly."

Starkman played in his third Wheeling Invitational after shooting a 76 last year. He could have been the only golfer to shoot under par. Before the rain delay, Starkman struck a 40-foot putt for birdie that lipped out. He had three birdies, two on the back nine.

"It's fun. I love the competition. I love playing competitive golf, especially with this competition to be on top now," Starkman said.

Lake Forest (305) won the 21-team meet led by Charlie Marshall (73), who tied for second, and Joe Willis (74), who tied for sixth.

Maine South junior Tony Albano was among those tied for second with a 73, the second lowest score of his career. Albano bogeyed his final two holes on Nos. 18 and 1, but hit 15 of 18 greens in regulation. Some of Albano's best scores come in poor weather.

"I focus on each shot, not on the score," Albano said. "(In bad weather), I focus on that one shot."

Barrington entered the Wheeling Invitational coming off back-to-back tournament wins, but the Broncos (313) placed fourth, their worst place finish of the season. Nick Schiavi, who won at Ivanhoe Sept. 13 and tied for second at Mattoon Sept. 11, shot a team-leading 77 and did not place in the top 11.

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