DEKALB – If the Ottawa Pirates were feeling any pressure to do well at the Sycamore Class 2A Sectional on Monday, they certainly didn’t show it.
Sophomore Drake Kaufman was at or near the top of the event’s leaderboard at Kishwaukee Golf Club the entire day, capping his a second-place individual score of 72 with a crucial 12-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to lead the Pirates to second place, locking up a spot in the IHSA Class 2A State Finals held Friday and Saturday at Weibring Golf Club in Normal.
The Pirates were also near the top of the standings throughout, but when two players from Kaneland bogeyed – one on No. 17 and one on 18 – at virtually the same time Kaufman was draining his birdie, it all but clinched an advancing slot for Ottawa with a team score of 314.
That was shy of only sectional champion Crystal Lake Central’s 307. Kaneland’s bogeys dropped it into a tie for fourth with Aurora Marmion, behind advancing Rockford Boylan and the day’s medalist, Cooper Watt, who shot a 71.
The last time the Pirates earned a state berth as a team was in 2012, when coach Dave Wultzen’s club finished first at the Belvidere 2A Sectional and went on to take eighth at the state meet.
OHS coach Keith Budzowski acknowledged the pressure of the day and marveled at the calm and cool demeanor of his squad and how their have-fun attitude helped each of them be at his best.
“That’s how everybody is, relaxed and having fun, so much so it seems like they have ice water running through their veins,” the coach said of his squad. “Nothing phases them, even coming down to the wire today. They knew where we were at, and there were no bogeys, it was just par, par, par, par, and then Drake finishes with a birdie on the last hole with, oh, my gosh, his long putt.
“It was an amazing day for these guys.”
Kaufman attributed his standout day to his red-hot putter.
“I can’t lie, coming into this I was a little nervous, because this is the toughest course we’ve played all year,” said Kaufman. “I tried to focus extra hard today, not get distracted by anything, not looking at scores, not seeing where everyone was at. If I did that, then anything could happen.
“It was a good day, though. I played my game and did the best I could, but focus was the key. … We’re all pumped up right now.”
Jonathan Cooper contributed mightily with a 78 that would have advanced him individually if he weren’t already going. Freshman Seth Cooper was not far off his older teammates with an 81, while Drake Stoudt contributed an 83. Also for Ottawa, Chandler Creedon shot a 90, but the sixth man, sophomore Alex Billings, was forced to withdraw after nine holes.
It was a tough day all around for the L-P Cavaliers, but at least they had a ride home. After his last golfers finished, L-P coach Kyle Pytel went to the team bus and found it wouldn’t start. With some assistance, he got it running, but the Cavaliers as a whole could have used a little jumpstart of their own.
The best score on the day was Connor Noramczyk’s solid score of 86, leading L-P’s 360 that placed them 13th of the 14 teams.
“I was hoping to shoot better than I shot, I think we all did,” said Noramczyk. “Everything worked today but my putting. Putting was a struggle today. My tee shots actually worked pretty well, and I struck my irons well too, but there were too many three-putts. That could’ve been better … but I’m happy with how I played today. It was a good way to finish the season.”
Carter Fenza and Nolan Rundle were next for the Cavs, both with 90s, while Jon Milota and Noah Rietgraf each finished with 94s. Caden Valenzuela added a 96.
“We had a really nice round at the regional at Deer Park, a course we were familiar with,” said L-P coach Kyle Pytel. “I know the guys will tell you that they’re disappointed with how they shot today, but the scores were actually right around what we’d been averaging all year. They were solid, but not against the competition at a sectional and on a tough course.”
Also missing the cut for advancement were two participants each from Streator and Mendota.
The Trojans’ Ethan Hanaman scored an 83 to miss advancement by four strokes. Meanwhile, teammate Owen Aughenbaugh fired an 89.
For the Bulldogs, Cooper Wahl finished the day with a 93. Streator’s Dane Winterrowd carded an even 100.