Neuqua Valley Defeats Benet for Third on Tiebreaker at Fenton

Ian Nebendahl had a dream start at the 43rd Fenton Invitational on Saturday morning in Bensenville.

The fifth man began his round of the 29-team boys golf tournament at White Pines Golf Club with a par. But then his outward nine really became interesting.

“I came out pretty fast out of the gate,” Nebendahl said.

Nebendahl had three consecutive birdies and rode his sizzling start to lead the Wildcats to third place in the team standings with his low round of 4-over-par 74.

Neuqua Valley and Benet were tied for third place with team scores of 310, but Nick Roaches’ 79 proved to be the tiebreaker for the Wildcats.

The Nebendahl start was indicative of a team-wide opening nine holes for the Wildcats on the par-70 layout.

“We were only 3-over as a team after the front nine,” Neuqua Valley coach Spike Grosshuesch said. “We kind of wilted in the heat (coming in). It’s always good to get some hardware. This is a very good tournament.”

All five Neuqua players broke 80 on the shotgun start. Top gun Greg Schwager and second-rated Jason Roach also posted 79s for Neuqua, which received its fourth score in regulation courtesy of the 78 posted by Alec Sanderson.

Benet, which like Neuqua had already captured one major invitational on the young season, also had its four regulation scores under 80. A.J. Henning, a Downers Grove resident, played his inward-nine holes in 1-under 35 after early struggles to lead the Redwings with a 75.

“I started off 6-over after my first five holes,” Henning said. “My putter was working pretty well (on the inward nine). I made some big putts that kept me in it.”

Conor Ryan, the Naperville City Champion, and Quincy VanEekeren had matching 78s for the Redwings, who had their aggregate 310 total conclude when Brock Jameson posted a 79.

“We’re looking to get hardware at all of our invites,” Benet coach Dan Nagis said. “If we can put it together at the right time, we’re going to be tough (to beat).”

Metea Valley has its first class of seniors this fall, but the Mustangs’ golf team has a freshman currently manning the No. 1 spot. Jeremy Forbes led the squad once again with a 77.

“I have been playing No. 1 for about two weeks,” Forbes said. “I was just happy to make the varsity team (after summer tryouts). I had one triple (bogey), take that away and I had a 74.”

Matt Marsh (81), Adam Kreiner (82) and Dayne Nelson (84) rounded out the Mustangs’ scorers.

For Downers Grove South, which entered the season in search of a ninth consecutive West Suburban Golf championship, Connor Harmon was its leader.

The senior was the lone player to break 80 for the team, eclipsing the long-standing prep standard by one stroke.

“I didn’t play very well, to be honest,” Harmon said. “The only (aspect of my game) that was decent was my putting.”

Jon Artus’ 82 was the second-low round for Downers South, which had its 329 team total finalized by matching 84s from Colin Flynn and Jeremy Reidl.

West Aurora, the final local team in the field, has struggled all year after losing its two top players to graduation last year. Jay Bauer is reconsidering his options after the Blackhawks were only able to defeat two teams in the field with their 371 total.

“I think I’m going to concentrate more on nine-hole tournaments,” Bauer said. “I used to schedule all these (18-hole) tournaments (to prepare) for conference and state.”

West had its margin of error reduced to nothing when the squad was forced to play with only four players. Jonathan Huenecke had an 87 to lead the Blackhawks, with Ricky Rivera — the lone returning letter-winner — firing an 89. Blake Kauffman and Brendon Chavez completed the West scorecard.

Lyons Township blew away the field with three players averaging a 72 to frame its 293 total. Glenbard South senior Will Lear was the individual champion with a level-par 70.