Dukes excelled in conference and 18-hole tournaments.
By Mike Miazga
Correspondent
The York boys golf team had a season that virtually any team in the state would take in a heartbeat.
The Dukes finished the dual-match portion of the schedule with a 9-2 mark, which included a 5-1 record in West Suburban Conference Silver Division action. York’s only loss in conference was to Hinsdale Central by an ultra-competitive 137-144 count. The 144 was a season low for the Dukes for nine holes. York also shot 147 twice, 148 and 149 during those 11 matches.
York had equal success in 18-hole tournaments where it logged seven rounds under 310, including a season-best 302 to win the 25-team Dundee-Crown Charger Classic. The Dukes also shot a 304 at the WSC Silver meet, finishing third there and logging a second-place overall conference finish.
York also was second at the 20-team Addison Trail invitational and took third at the 25-team Fenton invitational. The Dukes were second out of 10 teams at their Class 3A regional.
The Dukes shot 309 at a Class 3A sectional and missed advancing to state as a team by a single stroke.
Aidan Mann advanced individually to state with a 76 at sectional.
Jake Brown shot 77 and ended up in a playoff that saw four golfers compete for two open state spots.
“Both of the advancing players had birdies to beat Jake who played admirably in the playoff under tremendous pressure,” said York coach Jim Borel.
Borel lauded his team for the performance it turned in throughout the season. “I was proud of our entire team,” he said. “We were competitive all year because our kids worked hard and competed. The last few years our team was stacked with seniors so our younger players did not have experience in pressure situations. Most of our players did not play in the regional or sectional and did a great job when put into those pressure situations this year. We will be better the next few years with all the experience our underclassmen received at the varsity level this year.
“To miss advancing to state by one stroke and starting two sophomores and one freshman on the varsity was a great accomplishment. Our kids battled all year and I was proud to be their coach. We are looking forward to the next few years and the sky is the limit for this group.”
York averaged 155.1 for nine holes this year. Mann, who had rounds of 89 and 80 at state and took 91st place in Class 3A, led the team in scoring average at 38.73 for nine holes. Josh LaBounty was second at 38.93, while Matt Buckley averaged 39.07 and Brown averaged 39.66, including scores of 77 (conference), 72 (regional) and 77 (sectional) in the postseason. No other York golfer posted three rounds in the 70s during the postseason.
Buckley earned all-conference honors after shooting 72 at the conference meet. York had six golfers shoot in the 70s during the conference meet.
Sam Bartolone averaged 40.16 for nine and Casey O’Malley averaged 40.47.
