Dukes girls golf team victorious against Wheaton North.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The York boys golf team showed that it meant business right off the bat at the recent Addison Trail Invitational.
The Dukes shot a 310 team score to take second in the competitive 20-team field at Joliet Country Club.
A lot of practice and training would have been involved in helping The Dukes to take second in this prestigious competition. With the use of specialist and professional equipment like a golf launch monitor, (check them out here) it could help them to have a rough idea about the data surrounding their swing and distance. Not only that, but it could help The Dukes to improve their style of play for the next competition.
Sophomore Joshua LaBounty led the Dukes with a 1-over-par 73 from the blue tees. Matt Buckley, also a sophomore, was second for York with a 78. Junior Aidan Mann shot 79 and senior captain Jake Brown shot an 80. Jacob Wit shot 85 and Ryan Costello finished with a 90.
Earlier, York opened the season by taking second out of 10 teams at the Elk Grove Invitational. The event is a varsity-sophomore scramble.
“It was a good team-building event for our players,” said York coach Jim Borel.
York heads into the 2017 season minus five graduated seniors from last year.
“We graduated five very strong seniors last year so we don’t have much varsity experience, but our underclassmen are excellent players,” said Borel. “Our senior leadership with Jake Brown and Ryan Costello will make for a very successful season.”
Other team members include juniors Blair Faber and Casey O’Malley, sophomore Mason Lampa and freshman Sam Bartolone.
Borel noted LaBounty will be a key component of the team as a 10th grader.
“Joshua will be one of the top players in the area,” he said. “He works very hard on his game and has the talent to make a ton of birdies at any time. He’s a great kid.”
York girls golf
The York girls golf team kicked off the season with a non-conference win against Wheaton North at Sugar Creek in Villa Park.
Haley Blattner was the meet medalist with a 44. Bella Bartolone, Mia Spedale and Allison Evans each shot 46, while Jenna Koeppen had a 48.
York’s varsity and JV also played a non-conference match against Maine South at Mission Hills with Maine South winning both contests.
At the varsity level, Katie Wegmann led the Dukes with a 43. Koeppen had a 47, while Bartolone had a 54. Annie Grasse shot 57.
In the JV contest, Cassie Sika shot 55. Jenna Hughes had a 58. Elle Borchardt finished with a 59 and Claudia Schreiber shot 62.
