Despot Tyrannical for Waubonsie Valley Golf

Dylan Despot clenched his fist in triumph when the last of his 16 pars found the bottom of the cup Wednesday afternoon.

It also signaled another dominant performance by the Waubonsie Valley boys golf team.

The Warriors, the defending Class 3A St. Charles East sectional champion, defended their Aurora City Tournament title in grand fashion at Phillips Park Golf Course.

Waubonsie Valley not only defended its city championship but also obliterated its fellow seven Aurora high school rivals, monopolizing the first five places en route to a 292-310 victory over runner-up Marmion.

Despot opened his outward nine with nine consecutive pars, chipped in for birdie to begin his inward nine and added another birdie on the No. 1-handicapped par-4 hole to post a career-best 2-under-par 69 in claiming the individual title.

"I just felt on today and got lucky a few times, which always helps," Despot said of his bogey-free, composite nine-hole scores of 36 and 33. "(On the par-4, 16th hole) I was way left and behind the trees, and the wind took (my approach shot) next to the hole. I got a couple (of chip shots) to 10 feet and I made those for par. I putted out of my mind."

The most remarkable aspect of all about the Despot performance was the fact the senior was playing as the sixth-man in the Warriors' talented lineup.

Thomas O'Bryan, who has been ensconced in the No. 1 spot all year, gave way to Alec Meyer for the Warriors' top-rated player.

O'Brien snaked home a 25-footer for birdie at No. 11 and  closed out his round by nearly holing out for eagle.

The defending champion finished with a 76 and fifth-place finish -- and the Warriors threw out his score.

Meyer duplicated the 1-over 36 inward-nine finish O'Bryan fashioned to place fourth with a 75; Josh Stefanski and Alex Koulos did one better as the Warriors' third and fourth players both posted solid 74s.

It was nothing new for the squad which returned its entire six-man lineup from the state tournament last fall, winning its third major tournament of the season. The Warriors are also flawless in dual-match play this season.

"I struck the ball well," said Stefanski, the Warriors' two-time reigning state qualifier. "The putter was the only thing that gave me any problems. You can't make them all. We're all just bringing scores at the right time."

"Obviously there's a sense of pride when you win your city championship," Waubonsie coach Dave Owles said.

Making its debut in the city tournament, second-year program Metea Valley finished sixth.