Providence, Lincoln-Way Central to clash at Heritage Bluffs

Providence coach John Platt has run the numbers in his head and two keep coming back to him.

“Five teams can break 310,” Platt said of the nine teams in Tuesday’s Class 3A boys golf regional at Heritage Bluffs Golf Course in Channahon.

Platt’s Celtics are one of them. They scored 295 in winning last week’s Catholic League championship, giving them a mental boost. The four scores that counted, 71, 74 and a pair of 75s, came from Telly Korbakes, Casey Labuda, Ryan Utter and freshman Mickey Brick.

“Consistency is what it takes to get there,” Korbakes, a senior, said of the Celtics’ push.

Providence has had that in recent years. The Celtics have advanced to sectional play as a team the last four seasons, and made it to the IHSA’s 3A championship the last two years, tying for eighth last year and placing fifth in 2009.

They could well have company in their sectional trip, from the school down the street. Lincoln-Way Central captured the SouthWest Suburban Red title last week at Sanctuary with similar consistency, placing three players, Tom Schuman, Tony Kestel and Bryant Bolden, in the top five.

“The regional is going to be tough with Providence in it,” Lincoln-Way Central coach Don Hayes said. “But we want to go downstate as a team, not as individuals. I’ve been telling them, ‘It’s my responsibility to get you downstate, and it’s your responsibility to get me downstate.’ ’’

The Knights haven’t been to the state championship as a team since 1997, when they placed 11th. If they advance from Heritage Bluffs to the sectional at Inwood in Joliet, they’ll be facing the best downstate teams as well.

Sandburg should be among the trio of schools advancing to Monday’s 3A sectional at Balmoral Woods Golf Course in Crete from Tuesday’s regional at Old Oak Country Club in Homer Glen, while Homewood-Flossmoor and Mount Carmel are the favorites at Glenwoodie.

Lemont’s path to a fifth straight appearance in the 2A championship begins at Joliet Country Club, and if the Indians advance, continues in Saturday’s sectional at Broken Arrow Golf Course in Lockport. That’s where the Indians captured their sixth straight South Suburban Blue title last week, with junior Joe Paloian leading the way.

St. Laurence appears to be the area favorite at the 2A regional at Cog Hill, an eight-team regional that includes St. Rita and Evergreen Park. One of the three sectional spots should be reserved for host St. Ignatius, which took third at the Catholic League championship.

© 2012 Sun-Times Media, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be copied or distributed without permission. For more information about reprints and permissions, visit www.suntimesreprints.com. To order a reprint of this article, click here.