Cary-Grove tops LF for state berth

No one was quite sure if it had ever happened for a Cary-Grove boys golf team.

The IHSA records say it did more than 30 years ago.

So what occurred Monday afternoon won't be forgotten for a long time at Cary-Grove.

The Trojans and perennial power Lake Forest shot 327 at Oak Grove Golf Course to finish a shot behind Class 3A McHenry sectional champion Barrington.

But only two teams advance in the expanded class format. So thanks to Scott Brady's 90, the Trojans had the advantage on the fifth-score tiebreaker and will be playing at this weekend's state tournament at the Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington.

"It really is quite a feat," said Cary-Grove coach Kelly Muzzy, whose school made the state tourney in the 1975-76 school year.

"I can't even explain it," said Cary-Grove junior Ryan Kwech. "The joy is unexplainable."

Kwech's 84 was the Trojans' final counting score. Senior Brian Colbert, who won Fox Valley Conference and regional titles the last two weeks at Oak Grove, shot 80.

Sophomore Matt Efflandt also shot 80 and Tyler Bulterman had an 83.

"I struggled today," said Cary-Grove senior Dave Ptaszek of his 96. "But my team picked me up and I get to go on."

And the Trojans move on instead of Lake Forest, which has made 21 state trips, finished third the last two years in AA and won a state title in 2004.

Lake Forest had 78s from John Boyle and Drew Kenning and counted a 79, but it also had to count one of its two 92s and had a 94.

"That makes it 10 times better," Bulterman said. "They're always a contender at state and it feels good to knock them out."

Colbert had shot 71s the last two weeks at Oak Grove. He wasn't very happy after he finished his round Monday in unseasonably warm and windy conditions that included two brief downpours.

And Colbert said the course played "9 strokes tougher" with pin placements some coaches and players compared to miniature golf.

"After I walked off the 18th green it was the worst feeling of my life," Colbert said.

That changed a few minutes later.

"I was relieved," he said.

Thanks to Efflandt and Bulterman coming through with clutch performances.

"That was the difference," Muzzy said of Efflandt. "He's been up and down a little bit but for him to come in with this kind of pressure as a sophomore and shoot 80 is impressive.

"Hat's off to our three-four guys. They gave us a chance."

One the Trojans won't forget for a long time.

"I feel great," Kwech said. "We're going to state."

Also going to state is Prairie Ridge's Tyler Benson, who shot a 4-under-par 75 to finish second to Woodstock's Caleb Remington (73).

The Blue Streaks finished fourth (331) and McHenry and Mundelein tied for fifth (336).

Ross Frankenberg of Barrington was third with a 77 and six players qualified with 78s.

Prairie Ridge's Kyle Sherman shot 84, Jacobs' Josh Kopka and Crystal Lake South's Anthony Raucci shot 85 and Dundee-Crown's Jordan Nelson had an 89.