Oct. 18--BLOOMINGTON, Ill. -- St. Edward senior Michael Mattas considered himself lucky just to be competing at the Class 1A boys golf state tournament.
Mattas finished third on his own team at Monday's Byron Sectional, shooting an 12-over-par 84. He turned things around quickly, winning the 1A championship Saturday with a two-day total of 5-over 149 at Prairie Vista Golf Course.
Mattas would not have qualified for state if not for his Green Wave qualifying as a team, as the individual cutoff at Byron was 83.
"This is a team victory," Mattas said of his individual title. "I wouldn't even be here without them. I played my worst round in three years at sectionals. I owe them a lot."
Byron captured the 1A team title with a two-day total of 645 (+33). St. Edward was fourth at 47-over 659.
Miles takes 2A crown: North Shore senior Drew Miles shot a 2-under-par 140 to win the Class 2A individual title at Weibring Golf Club in Normal. Miles shot a 2-under 33 on the final nine holes Saturday.
Morton, Ill., carded a 615 (+47) to win the 2A team title. The potters routed the field, with second-place St. Francis 23 shots behind.
"I thought our kids played great all weekend," St. Francis coach Greg Baresel said. "We knew it was going to be a challenge on 17 and 18. We struggled with those two holes all week, but we played well enough to get second."
H-F back on track: Over an hour before the end of Saturday's Class 3A state meet, Homewood-Flossmoor golf coach Chris Stiglic urged his golfers to gather together for a team picture to commemorate the moment.
Stiglic struggled looking for the ideal picture. He should've asked senior Jack Mulligan, a four-time state participant. The Vikings advanced to state for the second consecutive season, finishing 12th out of 12 teams last season and 11th Saturday. Before last year, the Vikings hadn't advanced to state as a team since 2009. Homewood-Flossmoor was a regular state participant in the 1970s, '80s and '90s.
"Our program has definitely evolved from my freshman year," Mulligan said after carding a two-day tally of 173. "It's grown over time. I really would've liked to play well this weekend, but it means a lot to make it to state all four years. It's not easy.
"I don't think H-F golf was on anybody's radar four years ago, especially at the state tournament. Now, people definitely know about us. When we are at a tourney, people are aware of us."
Bob Narang is a freelance reporter for the Chicago Tribune.
