Boys Golf: Jack Inabnit’s albatross carries Hinsdale Central to third at Class 3A state; Glenbard West fourth

BLOOMINGTON – Jack Inabnit was 170 yards out on the par-5 ninth hole of The Den at Fox Creek. It was his last hole as a Hinsdale Central senior, having started on No. 10. He had birdied the eighth hole to lift the Red Devils a stroke ahead of arch-rival Glenbard West.

He was the last Red Devil on the course, and he wasn’t finished. The uphill ninth was set up at 464 yards, and playing dead into Saturday’s 14-mile-per-hour south wind. His tee shot traveled 294 yards. His club of choice was a 6-iron.

It was the right club. The ball came out of the sky and flew directly into the cup for an albatross, a 2 on the par-5. The rarest shot in golf elicited a roar from the gallery that carried loud and long across the street to the 18th green.

It also locked the Red Devils into third place at the Class 3A state tournament, their first trophy in three years. Hinsdale Central won seven straight 3A titles from 2012-18.

Inabnit was a freshman in 2018, and watched the upperclassmen have all the fun. This time, he wrote a finish to his high school story that will never be topped, and likely will never be duplicated.

“I spent four years in this program trying to win and accomplish something as a team,” Inabnit said after signing his card for 1-under 71 and a two-day total of 1-over 145. “It feels great being able to do it my senior year, especially not having last year.”

Inabnit was one of five Red Devils to birdie No. 10 to close the gap on Prospect, which entered the day third, the last trophy position. The fast start was the plan, coach Jess Krueger said.

“We basically went to third place on one hole, because I think (Prospect) started three over,” Krueger said. “I gave them a couple of goals. One was to put your sights on that third place. We played well and two teams played really well. And a couple individuals (Inabnit and sophomore Alex Rasmussen), I told, ‘You can take a shot at all-state. You might not think it’s a big deal now, but trust me, in 10 years you will.’ That was our marching orders to go out.”

Inabnit’s stunning finish was the final kick Hinsdale Central needed to grab third place with a score of 592, four strokes ahead of Glenbard West, and behind Glenbrook North (575) and New Trier (578).

Rasmussen (146), junior Emil Riegger (147) and senior Michael Spitzer (148) also scored for the Red Devils.

Krueger described Inabnit’s albatross this way: “Nice pose, nice follow-through, then hands in the air!”

Glenbard West’s Grant Roscich finished tied for 12th to snag all-state recognition with a 71 for even-par 144.

For Glenbard West, the realization that defense isn’t played in golf came about once again. The Hilltoppers took fourth despite big-hitting senior John Wild nearly driving the 18th green for the second straight day, scoring 1-under 71 for 3-under 141 to lead the team.

“We controlled what we can control,” said Wild, an Oklahoma State commit, who finished fourth in his high school finale. “Birdie-albatross, nothing you can do about that.”

“They played really well, and Hinsdale did too, all weekend, battling back and forth,” Glenbard West coach Paul Hezlett said. “John Wild was a great player, great leader for us. He finished well. We’re going to miss him. This senior class was strong overall.”

Wild was joined by sophomore Roscich (144), junior Matt Valdick (153) and Ryan Park (160) as scorers. Caden Pierce (163) and Eric Schall (164) also played.

Lyons Township finished sixth with a total of 609, 17 strokes out of trophy territory. The Lions were led by senior Will Caronchi’s 4-over 148 total.

At the Class 1A meet, IC Catholic Prep was part of a scintillating three-way race for the team title at Prairie Vista Golf Course. The Knights shot 618 and earned the program’s first state trophy, but settled for third behind Vandalia (616) and North Shore Country Day (617).

IC Catholic’s Jann Atendido birdied No. 16 and No. 17 and teammate Nick Zanoni birdied No. 17 to pull the Knights into a three-way tie as the last two groups made the 18th hole.

“But the 18th was not kind to us,” IC Catholic coach Don Sujack said. “Nick doubled and Jann knowing we needed something hit a 325-yard drive as straight as can be, bounced on the fairway, down this artificial hill and up against a fence. He had to hack it onto the green and he couldn’t make par. We went down swinging.”

Indeed, the Knights were four shots back going into the final round. Atendido shot a 7-over par to tie for ninth, with Zanoni one shot back and tied for 12th. The all-junior Knights’ lineup were coming off winning the program’s first sectional in 40 years.

“We’re disappointed,” Sujack said. “Our goal was to win state and we were good enough but didn’t perform. The good news is we have six juniors coming back with a burning desire.”

At the Class 2A meet, Wheaton Academy shot a 603 for third place behind St. Ignatius (585) and Benton (594), beating out fourth-place Lemont (612) for the last state trophy. It’s Wheaton Academy’s first state trophy since winning the 2009 Class 1A state title.

The Warriors took third place to sneak out of regionals and second at sectionals with their best round in 10 years of 299 and followed it up with a 297 on Friday.

“We’re pretty excited about it,” Wheaton Academy coach Bob Broman said. “We were in trouble in our regional tournament, in danger of maybe not getting out and the last six holes we played phenomenal golf. We all learned to buckle down when it was truly important.”

Junior Sam Dykema led the way, shooting a 3-under par to tie for second, five shots back of Benton’s Cy Norman.

“I think we just finally got our groove,” Dykema said. “I haven’t really found my swing until these last couple tournaments and I finally found it. The first day I was hitting some driver bombs every time, ended up on the green and made some good putts.”