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Lincoln-Way Central wins SWSC Red
Updated: September 27, 2011 7:44PM
Don Hayes coached baseball and girls basketball before taking over the boys golf program at Lincoln-Way Central. With 41 years experience, Hayes brings the wisdom of a sage to the Knights golf team.
“I just preach toughness,” Hayes said. “Don’t let one hole bother you.”
Tom Schuman took that advice to heart Tuesday. Twice, the senior triple-bogeyed par-3 holes. Both times, he birdied the next hole.
“You’re really down after a triple,” Schuman said. “But you just know the rest of the holes are ahead of you.”
Schuman made the most of bouncing back, fighting his way to a 3-over-par 75 at The Sanctuary to lead Lincoln-Way Central to the SouthWest Suburban Red boys title for the third straight season. Totaling 19-over 307, the Knights scored a five-stroke victory over Lincoln-Way West and led third-place Lincoln-Way North by 20 strokes.
“It’s been a great year, and it’s not over,” Hayes said. “This means a lot, winning our third in a row.”
What Schuman couldn’t do is catch Will Knights. The Lincoln-Way West senior won the individual title with a 1-over 73, birdies on the par-4 16th and 18th holes making the difference.
“The last two years, I made all-conference (by finishing in the top 12) but didn’t really do well at conference,” Knights said. “My mental game today was, keep going.”
Playing with Schuman, Knights set up the birdie putts by feathering a gap wedge to 7 feet on the 16th, and dropped a 6-iron 20 feet from the cup at the last.
Schuman and junior Bryant Bolden have been part of all three Central titles, while Tony Kestel has been part of the last two squads. Bolden, Kestel and Lincoln-Way North’s Jack Misheck tied for third at 4-over 76.
Lincoln-Way North’s Zack Houle had the shot of the day, a hole-in-one on the 15th hole. He used a 9-iron to negotiate the 140-yard test, spinning the ball back into the cup, and finished with an even 100.
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