St. Viator's Gattone, Fremd qualify for state berths
Fremd's Brad Peterson and Zach Isoda are on opposite ends of the prep golf spectrum.
Peterson, a senior, is a veteran who has played varsity for three seasons on some stellar Vikings teams while Isoda is a sophomore who originally planned to play baseball until a shoulder injury led him to focus on the links.
But at least for one day, the two had a couple of things in common.
Both fired superb rounds of 73 at Monday's St. Viator sectional, and both along with their teammates will be headed to this weekend's IHSA Class 3A state finals in Bloomington.
Peterson and Isoda, along with seniors Jackson Tworek (77) and Brian Bodolay (80), led Fremd to a score of 303 and a third-place finish at Old Orchard Country Club and a berth at the “Den at Fox Creek Golf Course.
“This feels great, especially being a senior it's kind of my last hurrah, said Peterson, who eagled the 487-yard, par-5 15th hole for the chance to compete at Bloomington.
Sectional champion Lake Forest (297) and runner-up Glenbrook North (301) also advanced as teams.
Glenbrook South junior Quinn Prchal (68) took medalist honors, with Jacobs senior Scott Cahill in second with a 72.
It'll be the second straight state tournament appearance for Cahill, who overcame a double bogey at the 17th hole to record the even-par score.
“I played a conservative round, Cahill said. “I played well enough to withstand the one mistake (at 17).
The senior, after finishing 17th in 2009, is looking forward to being a contender for the top individual prize this year.
“I know my game, and if I go down there and play my game I'll be fine, Cahill said.
Nick Robles of Crystal Lake South also earned the right to travel to Bloomington. The junior fired a a 74 to advance as an individual, as did Tommy Schofield of Carmel in a field that St. Viator coach Jack Halpin called “the toughest sectional in the state.
“The state champion will come out of this field, said Halpin, whose Lions didn't advance out of regionals this year after winning three straight state crowns.
But Viator will still be represented at Fox Creek this weekend.
Lions senior Rick Gattone, who transferred from Driscoll two years ago after that school closed, punched his ticket with a round of 74.
“At first it was a bummer, said Gattone of having to leave Driscoll after two years. “There was a period of adjustment, but Viator is such a great environment and the kids on the golf team are some of the nicest kids I've ever met.
Gattone, after excelling on the links at his former school, didn't get much of a chance on Viator's star-laden 2009 squad. But he has made the most of his chances this season.
“They were amazing, said Gattone of the Lions' three-peat team last year that included individual state champion Danny Stringfellow. “It was a lot of fun just to watch those guys.
Senior Landon Kowalski of Stevenson advanced by firing a 74, while Buffalo Grove freshman Doug Ghim claimed the last individual qualifying spot.
Ghim and Prospect Ryan Kowalski both excelled by shooting 75, but the frosh bested the Knights' junior in a two-hole playoff.
“I've never been prouder of him this year than I am today, said BG coach Pete Duffer of the talented 14-year old Ghim who overcame a 4-over-par 9 on the 15th hole to recover and advance. “He was able to keep his composure and come through.
Brett Cigelnik of Mundelein and Wheeling's Michael Taylor both just missed qualifying with rounds of 76.