Loyola boys golf coach Tim Kane had such a talented team he decided to create a competitive situation to determine the golfers who would make the Ramblers’ six-man postseason roster. That proved a good thing for senior Ben Scherman.
“We had an internal playoff in the last week of the season to see who would go with us to the conference meet, regionals, sectionals and state,” Kane said. “Ben Scherman came in at number six.”
Scherman had been a member of the top six at times during the season.
He shot a 76 in the first round of the Class 3A state tournament on Friday and an 80 on Saturday to help the Ramblers finish in fifth place with a score of 608 at The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington.
Scherman had the sixth score (83) for the Ramblers in the Loyola Regional on Oct. 3, but he fired a 71 at the New Trier Sectional to earn medalist honors and help the Ramblers capture the team title on Oct. 9.
Loyola finished the first day at state in second place with a 302. The Ramblers trailed Hinsdale Central by seven strokes. Kane said he felt his team was in the hunt for a top-three trophy and an improvement on last year’s fifth-place finish.
“Some of the other teams played really well,” Kane said.
The Ramblers, however, were 14 strokes better than 2016 on the same course.
Leading the Ramblers was junior Peter Radler. He had a two-day total of 147 with 74 on Friday and 73 on Saturday.
New Trier
After his team finished the first day of the Class 3A boys golf state tournament in ninth place with a 313, New Trier coach Pete Drevline decided it was time to calm his players down.
“We had a talk on the bus when we got back to the hotel,” Drevline said. “I told them to go out there, relax and have fun.”
Senior Will Nummy had a similar message for his teammates.
“I was a little bummed,” Nummy said about the first day. “It was our last round of the year so I decided to go out and have fun. I told (my teammates) to go out there and have fun.”
Drevline said Nummy’s demeanor helped show the rest of the Trevians the way.
“He was very professional, very businesslike,” Drevline said. “He was a great role model for the rest of them.”
It worked. The Trevians’ team score improved by 13 strokes on Saturday and they climbed up three places in the team standings to finish sixth with a 613.
Sophomore Daniel Tanaka led the team with a 74 on Saturday while Nummy and senior Michael Tanaka, Daniel Tanaka’s brother, each shot a 75. Senior Max Weber and sophomore Brian Joseph each carded a 76.
Christian Heritage Academy
Freshman Luke Tedford became the first golfer from Christian Heritage Academy in Northfield to compete in the state tournament when he teed it up at the Class 1A meet on Friday, athletic director and coach Jeff Cook said. While the school started in 1984, its high school is nine years old.
Tedford, a Lake Forest resident, finished tied for 27th with a two-day total of 164 at Prairie Vista in Bloomington. He fired a 79 on Friday and an 85 on Saturday. He started the first day challenging for the lead and was at even par through nine holes, but he fell off the pace on the back nine.
His highlight came on Saturday when he missed a hole-in-one on the 15th hole by less than a foot. He used a 9-iron on the 140-yard par-3.
“It felt real good,” Tedford said of his tee shot. “I didn’t realize how close it was ’till I got near the hole. I was pretty happy.”
He made the putt for birdie.
Glenbrook South
Titans senior Jack Grier finished his high school career in a four-way for 14th at the Class 3A boys golf state tournament with a 149. He sat in a tie for 44th place after shooting a 79 on Friday, but came back with a 70 on Saturday.
“He never gave up,” Titans coach Steve Gale said. “He played solid golf. It was a great way to finish the year.”
Others
North Shore Country Day senior Will Dart tied for 27th (164) at the Class 1A tournament.
Glenbrook North junior Max Plasota tied for 53rd (156) while fellow junior Max Kogen tied for 96th (171) at the Class 3A tournament.
Steve Sadin is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter @Pioneer_Press
