May 08, 2025
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Daily Chronicle 2023 Boys Golf Preview: Players to Watch

By John Gallione
Sycamore’s Luther Swedberg tees off on no.11 at Emerald Hill in Sterling for the Class AA IHSA sectional golf meet.

Sycamore’s Luther Swedberg tees off on no.11 at Emerald Hill in Sterling for the Class AA IHSA sectional golf meet. (Alex T. Paschal - apaschal@shawmedia.com)

Luther Swedberg, sr., Sycamore

Swedberg is coming off a sectional appearance last season for the Spartans. Coach Dan Wheeler said he is a wonderful young man who is accountable, responsible and respectful, and that he often sees him as another adult on the team he can ask to help him with anything the team needs. Swedberg’s game developed over the summer, adding distance on every club and putting him in birdie position more often.

DeKalb's Jonah Keck watches his tee shot on the 4th hole Tuesday, Aug. 9, 2022, during golf practice at River Heights Golf Course in DeKalb.

DeKalb's Jonah Keck watches his tee shot on the 4th hole Tuesday last season during golf practice at River Heights Golf Course in DeKalb. (Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.com/Mark Busch - mbusch@shawmedia.co)

Brycen Lavender, sr., Genoa-Kingston

Cogs coach Kyle Carbone raved about Lavender’s summer. Lavender, a rookie last season, spent the summer playing and working out. Carbone said Lavender has been showing flashes of being a low-to-mid-40s player consistently. The coach is excited to see how Lavender wraps up his career for the Cogs.

Jonah Keck, jr., DeKalb

Keck may only be a junior, but he is a leader on the course for the Barbs. DeKalb coach Brad Kerkman called Keck a “range rat,” noting the improvement Keck made on his ball-striking consistency. Kerkman also noted that Keck has physically developed, hitting all of his clubs longer. Keck didn’t start golfing until seventh grade, so with another year of eligibility after 2023, Kerkman said Keck’s ceiling is “as high as he wants it to be.”

Hinckley-Big Rock's Saje Beane tees off during golf at Indian Oak Golf Course in Shabbona on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023.

Hinckley-Big Rock's Saje Beane tees off during golf at Indian Oak Golf Course in Shabbona on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (Mark Black for Shaw Local News Network)

Saje Beane, sr., and Martin Ledbetter, jr., Hinckley-Big Rock

Beane is coming off of a co-medaling finish at the Little Ten Conference triangular against Indian Creek and Earlville. Beane shot a 39, leading the way for the Royals. At first glance, Ledbetter looks more like a left tackle than a golfer who also is an immensely talented baseball player. Ledbetter can crush the ball off the tee. But the question for this season is will the other parts of his game catch up? If he can be more balanced, Beane and Ledbetter could be a thunder-and-lightning duo for the Royals this season.

Dylan White, sr., Indian Creek

White shared the first-place podium with Hinckley-Big Rock’s Saje Beane at the Little Ten Conference triangular Aug. 15, shooting a 39. White is a talented player who could thrive under a coach such as Matt Davis, an Indian Creek alumni who holds many records and went on to play in college.

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