Tigers win final NCIC golf title
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| Princeton won the final NCIC golf championship Wednesday at Spring Creek Colf Course. Team members are (from left) coach Duane Price, Cole Evenson, Hunter Schultz, Ian Nichols, Derec Roberson, Zach Hicks and Miles Rose. (Photo contributed) |
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The Princeton Tigers won their last go-around in NCIC golf at Spring Creek Golf Course Wednesday.
With medalist Cole Evenson (79) leading the way, the Tigers (326) topped the three-team field of St. Bede (341) and IVC (349). It was the Tigers’ second straight NCIC title and ninth overall dating back to 1943.
“Having played in the NCIC myself and knowing that this is the last NCIC tournament, I think it made it all the more special for our team to be the reigning NCIC champs and for Cole to be the reigning individual medalist,’ said first-year PHS coach Duane Price, a former Kewanee golfer.
“Competition is always tough. Spring Creek, a position and precision golf course, can play extremely difficult. That said, I’m so impressed with how the guys raised their level of play. We have worked hard recently on being mentally tough and using course management skills to our advantage. It really showed today, and I’m hoping it gives the guys some momentum heading into the regional.”
Evenson edged runner-up Jaron Hutson of IVC by one stroke. All-conference medals went to the top eight golfers, including third-place Zach Hicks (81), Hunter Schultz (82) and Ian Nichols (84) of Princeton, fourth-place Joey Dudek (81) of St. Bede and Justin Brabant (84) of IVC.
Also scoring for the Bruins were Grant Bosnich and Mike Zywica, both at 87.
St. Bede won the JV title with a round of 410 led by the 2-4 finish of Brady Donahue (93), Gabe Braboy (101) and Colin Giordano (105). IVC’s Seth Smith (91) was medalist. Mason Baele paced Princeton at 113.
PHS also won NCIC titles in 1975, 1976, 1982, 2003, 2004 and 2005.
Tri-County Conference: Hall placed third scoring 380 points in Thursday’s TCC Meet won by Peoria Christian (367) with Midland (376) taking second. Henry’s Bobby McBride was the meet medalist at 78, seven strokes ahead of runner-up Pete Mautino of Hall. Hall’s Nathan Alfano (8th, 92) and Putnam County’s Nate Ward (10th, 93) also placed in the Top 10.
Also scoring for Hall were Nick Scheri (100) and Ryan Ott (102).
Regional golf: The IHSA regional golf tournaments will tee up this week. Princeton heads to Timber Creek Golf Course for the Dixon 2A boys regional, joined by Dixon, L-P, Mendota, Oregon, Ottawa, Rochelle, Rock Falls and Sterling.
In 1A, Hall, DePue and St. Bede will compete in the Seneca Regional at Nettle Creek Golf Course. Manlius travels to Monmouth at Gibson Woods Golf Course and Amboy/LaMoille competes out of the Freeport Regional at Park Hills Golf Course.
Girls golf
Kewanee Invite: St. Bede had two golfers — Barbi Prokup (sixth, 92) and Sydney Eustice (17th, 101) and Princeton had one — Sophia Suarez (18th, 103) — received Top 20 flags in Thursday’s Kewanee Invitational at Baker Park.
The Lady Bruins placed fourth (422), and Princeton was fifth (437), following Mercer County (371), Prophetstown (380) and Rockridge (414). Also scoring for the Lady Bruins were 21st Gabrielle Mendoza (106) and 35th Taylor Hamer (123). For PHS, Sarah Crowe tied for 21st (106), Arraia Hicks was 25th (110), Julie Miller tied for 29th (118) and Audra Reidner was 32nd (121).
Regional golf: All of the local girls golf teams are in Class 1A for the postseason with St. Bede hosting the local regional site at Spring Creek Golf Course in Spring Valley. They will be joined by DePue, Hall and Putnam County in a 15-school field. At other sites, Princeton travels to Baker Golf Course in Kewanee where 14 teams will be represented, and Amboy/LaMoille plays at the Oak Club of Genoa.
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