The Scouts Golf Team is teeing off in State. This year’s team is especially different, for four of the seven players in the playoffs being underclassmen.
Freshmen Thomas Hass, freshmen JD Welters, sophomore Sam Florancic, and sophomore Liam Carruthers are the four underclassmen who have stepped up to the challenge.
The one, two, and three of a golf team are the top three players on a team.Junior Raunak Wadhera,junior Michael Hahn, and senior Captain Jack Douglass take on those positions and lead the team.
On Wednesday, October 1st the Scouts hosted regionals at Lake Bluff golf course. Led by Florjancic, Douglass, and Hahn, all shooting a 78. 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 team is really excited about heading into sectionals with a chance to make it out and get to state. The team has really been playing well the last two to three weeks so we are hoping to continue the season tomorrow and make it down to Bloomington for the state championship. With one senior, two juniors, two sophomores, and a freshman playing, all of them have a chance to win the sectional outright,” said varsity Coach Jim Matheson.
The sectionals tournament was held on Monday October 6th. 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 backed 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.
“I’m really excited to go down to state for the second time but at a different course. Last year we played the den and this year we are playing Weibring. The team is playing the best golf right now which is awesome. We got 3rd place at regionals, second place at sectionals and now we are looking to get first at state,” said Douglass.
Douglass wasn’t the only one feeling confident heading into the final stretch of the season.
“When it mattered the most, the team was able to pull through and make it to state for the second straight year. We’re looking to continue this momentum into a state championship,” said Wadhera.
Hahn echoed the excitement, admitting that while there are some nerves, the anticipation is even greater.
“I’m a little nervous but excited for the opportunity,” Hahn said.
The Scouts, after two days, placed fourth out of 12. Hahn led with a combined score of 147. The first day shooting a 75 then on the second day a 72. Hahn ended up at seventh place overall. Hass (152), Wadhera (156), and Florjancic (157), helped Hahn get the team to a top five finish.
