Competition tough for Naperville-area at state

Updated: March 22, 2011 5:22PM

Looking at the top 10 finishers from last year's Class 3A boys' state golf tournament, you'll see five teams - runner-up New Trier, Lake Forest, Providence Catholic, Quincy, St. Charles East - making return trips to Bloomington, each trying to stake its claim as the state's best.

St. Viator is relinquishing the top spot on the podium, so the question is out there: will a familiar team take its place or can a talented, experience-laden team like Naperville North go in to The Den at Fox Greek Golf Course in Bloomington and oust the others?

"In this area, us, Waubonsie Valley, Hinsdale Central can beat each other up on any day, and we have done that," Naperville North coach Ryan Hantak said following the Naperville Central Sectional where the Huskies were third behind Hinsdale and St. Charles East. Waubonsie, which finished seventh in the state last year, was fifth in a low-scoring field.

"We were probably the best sectional and some of the North Shore schools are pretty good, but we don't know too much about them. We're some of the better schools in the state, so we'll see," Hantak said.

Waubonsie senior Thomas O'Bryan leads a talented group of individuals, like Neuqua Valley seniors John Walsh and Kyler Kearns, Geneva senior Andrew Cisco, and Wheaton Warrenville South junior Tee-K Kelly, competing for the individual title.

By age, North has the most experienced team with five seniors - Dan and Dave Considine, Nick Buege, Jon Mengel and Spencer Tanaka. They also have the area's hottest and arguably best player in sophomore Raymond Knoll.

Knoll, who won the DuPage Valley Conference crown (73) and the Naperville Central Sectional medal with a round of 69, looks to rebound from a shaky first round in Bloomington last year and learn from the 74 he shot the second day- even with a triple-bogey on the front nine - to finish in a tie for 13th.

"I want to compete and I want to do as best as I possibly can," Knoll said. "I'm hoping I won't be too nervous, but I'm really confident with the way I've been playing. My mental game has been flawless so far. I'm not getting too mad, I'm not letting a bad shot affect me as much as I used to."

Last year, Dan Stringfellow of St. Viator won with a 69 and a 75. Knoll shot 81 the first day before rebounding for the 74.

The biggest difference between this year and last is Knoll's consistency and that should serve him well if the weather, which has been perfect in October, turns nasty, though that is not expected. Regardless, Knoll and the Huskies have a chance to do this area proud.

"He is scary good," Hantak said about Knoll. "I'd bet anything he's the best sophomore in the state. He's just a stud. He can turn it on and off just like that and that's why he's so darn good. He can walk up to a shot and he's focused and as soon as he hits it he's off in a different world, relaxed, thinking about it. He's got a legitimate chance to win the whole darn thing. We'll ride on his back and see what happens."

GIRLS PREVIEW

It will be another dry year in the team department for area schools during the Class AA girls state golf tournament at Hickory Point Golf Course in Forsyth.

Want team hardware? Head east where Homewood-Flossmoor looks to defend its title against runner-up New Trier.

Individually, Kaneland senior Hayley Guyton is happy to get another shot at a title. Last year as a junior, Guyton shot 70 on the second day to force a playoff with Conant's Kris Yoo, but lost on the first playoff hole.

Other golfers that will compete individually include Waubonsie seniors Cherise Mangal and Maggie Miklasz, Batavia junior Kayla Lehman, Naperville Central junior Sarah DeGeeter and senior Carolyn Wong.

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