After graduating much of their 2024 Upstate Eight Conference East Division championship roster, senior Connor Dominick and his returning Riverside Brookfield High School boys golf teammates weren’t sure what the future might hold. Instead, the Bulldogs once again were holding the championship plaque Sept. 24 at the UEC Meet at St. Andrews Golf Course in West Chicago under first-year coach Charlie Pozen.
The Bulldogs’ 326 was the best score among the East teams by two strokes over Fenton to follow their perfect 5-0 record in conference duals.
“It was great to repeat the conference championship win, especially in my last year,” Dominick said. “We definitely had a little more pressure on us because we lost a lot of seniors. This tournament was special because it was one of my last events of my high-school career.”
Overall, the Bulldogs had the second-best score to West champion West Aurora’s 320. Dominick’s 5-over-par 76 for 18 holes finished third overall and second among UEC East entries to Elmwood Park senior overall champion Salvatore Labarbera (par-71). Senior Gavin Sharenow (tied for 11th, 82) and juniors Oliver Fakhoury (tied for 16th, 83) and Zak Milchhoefer (tied for 21st, 85) also had counting scores. Senior Ronnie Murray (tied for 27th, 87), junior Eliot Kastle and seniors Charlie Debutch and Aidan Diaz also were part of the lineup.
Dominick, Sharenow and Murray not only were part of last year’s lineup but earned All-UEC honors based on dual and conference meet scores. The 2023 Metro Suburban Conference title was the program’s first.
“Last year, we were spoiled with a lot of depth,” Dominick said. “We are always relying on the same four, five guys so there hasn’t really been a whole lot of room for error. I definitely feel like I’ve been able to contribute a lot more this year.”
The Bulldogs compete at the 3A Glenbrook North Regional Wednesday with hopes to advancing to the Payton Sectional Oct. 6. One of their best meets this season was winning the 12-team Aurora Central Catholic Invite Sept. 13. Dominick was the individual champion with a personal-best 1-under-par 70 and enjoyed having his father walk the round with him.
At the UEC Meet, Dominick finished with six pars after his fifth bogey.
“Even though I didn’t have my best stuff this round, it was still great to have my parents out there watching,” Dominick said.
LTHS golf
Last season, the LTHS boys maintained first place in the West Suburban Conference Silver Division title with a little help from Mother Nature. On Sept. 24, the Lions earned a share of their second straight overall title with Hinsdale Central thanks to their best round to that point – a 286 to win the Silver Meet at Prairie Bluff by two strokes over the Red Devils.
“It was good for the program. And everyone played well,” LTHS senior Finley Tyrrell said. “In some ways, (this title is) probably better because we have a lot of younger kids on our team.”
Tyrrell led the Lions with a 2-under-par 70 for second place behind Hinsdale Central sophomore Michael Jorski’s 66. Junior Ben Hare and senior Garrett Pohl (71s), who were awarded third and fifth based on scorecard tiebreakers, sophomore Cohen Bloomfield (11th, 74) and senior Jack Curran (tied for 14th, 75) also were all-conference medalists by being among the top 14 scores. Also playing were juniors Charlie Forrest (76) and Grayson Lee (77) and senior JT Almond (80).
The overall title is based on one point for each dual victory and team beaten at the conference meet. The Lions handed Hinsdale Central its only dual loss (148-149 Sept. 4) but were 4-2 with losses to Glenbard West and Oak Park and River Forest. York and Glenbard West were third and fourth at 298.
Another co-title may have happened in 2024 after the Lions went 6-0 in duals. But that alone determined the title because the Silver Meet was stopped mid-play by bad weather.
“This year we won it fair and square. We had to play our best,” Forrest said. “It means a lot (to repeat). I just think it’s better because we’re playing our best golf of the season. Usually we kind of stall off but I think everyone’s playing well. It was a good sign to win it.”
The Silver Meet was a personal victory for Pohl. He’s been battling back issues and had to withdraw from a quad at Fox Bend.
“I played very well (at the Silver Meet),” Pohl said. “Coming back from that was a super big building block. I’ve been treating it but it was definitely an obstacle I had to overcome.”
The Lions now have to overcome talented North Shore opponents to earn a top-three finish at the3A Payton Sectional Oct. 6 at Highland Woods and advance to state as a team for the first time since 2021. Their Payton Regional is Wednesday.
On Saturday, the Lions improved to 282 at LaGrange Country Club with top scores from Pohl (67), Tyrrell (70), Hare (71) and Forrest (73).
“The goal every time is playing well. If you play your best or play really well and somebody else shoots better, you can live with that,” LTHS coach Brian Kopecky said.
The LTHS girls joined RBHS at the 2A Sandburg Regional Wednesday with hopes of advancing to the Lockport Sectional Oct. 6 at Broken Arrow.
The Lions (151) finished sixth at the one-division WSC Meet Sept. 24 at Village Greens and were fifth in the final overall standings after a 6-3 dual record.
Senior Amelia Van Vuren, a two-time state competitor, tied for seventh (8-over-par 80) and was awarded eighth on a scorecard tiebreaker. Van Vuren and senior Brynn Evans (88), who tied for 20th, were all-conference medalists with top-20 finishes, followed by senior Bea Waite (tied for 24th, 89), sophomore Caroline McNaughton (tied for 35th, 94), junior Mekayla Genovesi (tied for 38th, 95), senior Danica Bezanis (52nd, 103) and juniors Mikaela Jones (tied for 58th, 108) and Lily Heflin (69th, 122).
