Class 2A Boys Golf Regional: Ottawa captures 3rd straight title, Pirates’ Drake Kaufman takes individual championship

OGLESBY – The Ottawa boys golf team – while continuing its strong play from all six members of the squad – was coming off a little bump in the road after finishing runner-up by a stroke at Monday’s Interstate Eight Conference meet entering Wednesday’s Class 2A Ottawa Regional at Deer Park Golf Club.

However, behind another strong team outing, including sophomore and I-8 champion Drake Kaufman’s 1-over-par 71 that claimed the individual regional title, the Pirates raised their third-consecutive team title, a first in program history, with a score of 299 to advance to Monday’s Class 2A Sycamore Sectional at Kishwaukee Country Club in DeKalb.

La Salle-Peru (315) finished second and Dixon placed third (318) to advance, followed by Stillman Valley (332), Mendota (342), Streator (345), Freeport (349), Sterling (358) and Rock Falls (429).

Kaufman carded a pair of birdies, 13 pars and three bogies during his championship round, with junior Jonathan Cooper placing second with a 72, senior Drake Stoudt fifth with a 75 and freshman Seth Cooper with an 81.

“That was a tough finish for us for sure. ... I was, and I know we all were disappointed, but you can’t get super mad over that and let it effect you,” Kaufman said of the I-8 meet. “We played pretty well but just came up a little short.

“Today I came in, wanted to throw up a low number, but also just wanted to continue the way I’ve been playing and just have a steady round. I feel I’m playing good right now, right when I need to be. I was happy with how I played, and I hit the ball just as well as I did on Monday, but today I just didn’t make as many putts as I did last time out, but in the end it all worked out.

“It’s also exciting to be advancing as a team as well. Hopefully, we can continue to play the way we are, and we’ll see what happens on Monday.”

La Salle-Peru junior Carter Fenza and sophomore Coleman Rundle each shot 74, with the former placing third after a back-nine tiebreaker. Adding counting scores for the Cavaliers were Connor Noramczyk (81) and Jon Milota (86).

“I had a much better start than I did at the [I-8] tournament,” Fenza said. “I was able to make a couple birdies to offset a couple bogies in the middle of the round and played par golf the rest of the way. My chipping and putting were a little better than how its been most of the season, so I was happy about that. Having [Kaufman] in my group was nice because he obviously played well today, and I feel it helped me play a steady round and it kept my focus where it needed to be.”

Mendota senior Ethan Hanaman posted a 76, good for sixth place and to advance to sectionals for the second time. Owen Aughenbaugh’s 85 also was good enough for him to move on. The Trojans also received counting scores from Drake Dennis (90) and Logan Brandner (91).

“I started on the back nine and was hot right from start, parring No. 10 and birdieing No. 11 after a tee shot about two-feet away from the cup,” Hanaman said. “From there it was pretty smooth sailing other than back-to-back bogies on the front. My mid-iron game was the best for me today, and I was throwing darts at greens, which was good because my driving was just a little bit off and my putting was pretty steady. Overall, I was happy with how I played and hopefully can shave off a couple strokes on Monday.”

Streator senior Cooper Wahl registered a career-best 79 and won a tiebreaker to finish eighth, while classmate Dane Winterrowd’s 86 was good enough to grab the final individual advancing spot. The Bulldogs also had Davey Rashid shoot an 88 and Jaydon Nambo a 92.

“My front nine was alright, but with a couple not so good holes,” said Wahl, who was 8-over on the front, but only 1-over on the back. “On the back nine though, I don’t know what was going on, but everything was clicking. My first hole of the day I four-putted, but from there I made a couple long putts off the fringe and I was putting the ball where I wanted to with my short game. My putter was the key to my round, but overall I was happy with played.”