Aquin, Sterling's Blackburn Shine at Boys Golf Regionals

Boys Golf Regional tournaments took place for area teams and individuals on Tuesday, Oct. 4. In each regional the top three teams, and top ten golfers not on the top three teams, advance to the sectional round.

Six area teams won Regional championships. Fulton won the Class 1A Galena Regional, Aquin won the Class 1A Oregon Regional, Boylan won the Class 2A Rockford East Regional, Sterling won the Class 2A Sycamore Regional, Morris won the Class 2A Kankakee McNamara Regional and Hononegah won the Class 3A Harlem Regional.

In four of the regional wins, the winning team was led by the top golfer of the meet.

Fulton senior Kyle Workman shot a 76 to take the individual title at Galena over Morrison's Reid Hoffman (77). Morrison took second place as a team, 20 strokes behind the champion Steamers' 333. West Carroll took third in the regional, and will advance its team to the sectional round. The Thunder was led by Garret Badke's 85.

Aquin sophomore Cullen Barkau shot a 72 to take the individual title at Oregon over the 77s' of junior teammate Michael Jacobs and Dakota's Tayler Burns. Aquin totaled 311 strokes as a team, ahead of Rockford Christian's 337. The Royal Lions were led by Casey Christianson's 82. Dakota took third in the regional.

Belvidere senior Robert Dofflemeyer shot a 73 to take the individual title at East over the 76 of Freeport's Adam Werntz. Boylan, who won the team title 306-328 over Freeport, was led by Dan Gorman's 78. Byron took third as a team, and was led by Brady Szuminski's 79.

Sterling junior Andrew Blackburn shot a 66 to take the individual title at Sycamore, three strokes from Sandwich's Lucas Burkett, who took second place. Sycamore, who fell five strokes shy of the team title won by Sterling 307-312, was led by Jon Nugent's 71. Sandwich took third in the regional.

Morris won the McNamara Regional shooting a 339, taking the title over the host's 350. Mike McPherson led the Redskins with an 82.

Hononegah senior Connor Nelson shot a 73 to take the individual title at Harlem, two strokes from Huntley's Ryan Craig. Huntley took second in the regional, while Auburn took third as a team led by Camden Rock's 76.

Burlington Central sophomore Matt Weber shot a 72 to win his home regional, which won won by Aurora Marmion.

Seneca's Jake Ferguson led area golfers individually at the Class 1A Aurora Central Catholic Regional, shooting an 87. St. Bede had the best team score in the regional of the area teams with a 379, just three strokes from making it to the sectional round.

Ottawa's Lane Barbier led area golfers individually at the Class 2A Geneseo Regional, shooting a 68. Geneseo had the best team score in the regional of the area teams with a 301, good enough for third place honors and a team trip to the sectional round.

Moline's Mitchell Mendinger led area golfers individually at the Class 3A Pekin Regional, shooting a 75. The Marooons had the best team score in the regional of the area teams with a 324, but fell one stroke from making it to the sectional round.

Sectionals will take place on Monday, with the exception of Morris's sectional taking place on Saturday at Lemont. Aquin will host the Class 1A sectional festivities, LaSalle-Peru and Wheaton Academy will host Class 2A sectionals and Palatine Fremd and Joliet Central will host Class 3A sectionals.

-Cody