The Varsity Boys Golf team placed fourth in State after two days of golf at the Weibring Golf Club in Normal.
Junior Michael Hahn led with a combined score of 147 for an overall 7th place. Hahn shot a 75 on the first day, then a 72 on the second day.
“My first day I didn’t play as well as I wanted, so I was pretty motivated to play well the second day. I got to play in the final group, which was a huge opportunity. I started well, making three birdies in my first four holes, but then I struggled later when I made two doubles in a row,” Hahn said. “I knew it was still important to just focus on what is coming instead of dwelling on my bad holes and I finished -1 on my remaining holes. It was exciting to be able to play in front of such a large audience.”
On Friday, Hahn, junior Raunak Wadhera, senior captain Jack Douglass, and freshman Thomas Hass had a combined score of 303, positioning them in fourth place. Then on Saturday, Hahn, Wadhera, sophomore Liam Carruthers, and sophomore Sam Florjancic shot a 306 keeping them in that fourth place spot with a score of 609.
Senior captain Jack Douglas was tasked with leading the team through thick and thin the whole season.
“I think the season was definitely a success. We really got everything we wanted. We were two shots out of 1st place going into the back nine at the State Championship. We didn’t play well on the back, but we still ended up getting 4th,” Douglass said. “Overall I’m really proud of the team, and I will remember this team for the rest of my life.”
Lake Forest had a long journey to the big tournament. To get to State they first had to go through Regionals.
Regionals was hosted by the Scouts at Lake Bluff Golf Course. Florjancic, Douglass, and Hahn all shot a 78, and Wadhera rounded out the scoring by shooting an 80, which was good for a third place finish and helped push them to the next stop, the Sectional Tournament.
The Sectional Tournament was held in Rockford on Oct. 6. Lake Forest shot a combined 298, only 2 strokes behind the lead of 296. Carruthers shot an outstanding 72 and medaled for third place. He was followed by Wadhera’s 74 at fifth place, and Hahn and Florjancic shot 76 for ninth place. All four of the counting scores counted inside the overall top ten.
