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newlenoxpatriot.com Sports<br />

the New Lenox Patriot | September 7, 2017 | 43<br />

Boys Golf<br />

Battle of undefeated squads end in Knights’ favor<br />

RANDY WHALEN<br />

Freelance Reporter<br />

A couple of the area’s top<br />

boys golf teams teed off<br />

against each other last week<br />

at a special location.<br />

In the end it was Lincoln-<br />

Way Central, with some very<br />

steady scoring, that defeated<br />

Lockport Township 145-159<br />

on Aug. 29 at Joliet Country<br />

Club.<br />

The victory kept the<br />

Knights (5-0, 5-0) undefeated<br />

in both dual meets<br />

overall and in SouthWest<br />

Suburban Conference play.<br />

It was the first dual team loss<br />

for Lockport (4-1, 4-1). But<br />

both teams found it neat to<br />

play in a place they usually<br />

wouldn’t get to golf at.<br />

“We did not shoot our<br />

best score [against Central],<br />

but I was pleased with the<br />

boys efforts on an unfamiliar<br />

track,” Lockport coach Matt<br />

Eber said. “We are grateful<br />

we could get out and compete<br />

on such a nice course as<br />

Joliet Country Club, and we<br />

thank Marty [Hetelle] and<br />

the members for allowing us<br />

to play there.”<br />

Central coach Ryan Pohlmann<br />

was also glad his team<br />

got the opportunity to play<br />

there. But he’s also happy<br />

his team has preformed so<br />

well as it’s already midseason.<br />

“This has been an enjoyable<br />

season,” Pohlmann<br />

said. “We have a great mix<br />

of guys on the team that are<br />

talented and have worked<br />

very hard in the off season.”<br />

That showed against the<br />

Porters, as the top four carded<br />

scores were within a few<br />

strokes of each other. Junior<br />

Jon Soldan led the way with<br />

a 35 to register medalist honors.<br />

Freshman Sean Curran<br />

(36), junior Brian Sterling<br />

(36) and senior E.J. Charles<br />

(38) were all consistent for<br />

Central.<br />

Lincoln-Way Central No. 1 golfer, Sean Curran, tees off Aug. 29 during a dual against<br />

Lockport at Joliet Country Club. Photos by James Sanchez/22nd Century Media<br />

“It is fitting that our seniors<br />

E.J. Charles and Ryan<br />

Nolan ... both have become<br />

tremendous golfers and are<br />

even better people,” Pohlmann<br />

said. “E.J., having<br />

transferred over from East<br />

to Central and Ryan grown<br />

up a Knight, they have come<br />

together to become great<br />

friends and teammates that<br />

have worked together to create<br />

high expectations for the<br />

program this season. They<br />

have truly encompassed<br />

what the transition of students<br />

has become.”<br />

Charles is happy to be one<br />

of the veteran leaders and believes<br />

consistency is the key.<br />

“Lockport is a solid<br />

team, and we all played<br />

well against them,” he said.<br />

“We’re doing well, The guys<br />

have just been consistent<br />

and we have a good group of<br />

players.<br />

“Hopefully we have<br />

enough guys that are playing<br />

well at the end of the season.<br />

As a team our goal is to<br />

make it to state.”<br />

That’s a good possibility<br />

Knights other senior starter, Ryan Nolan, follows through<br />

after his tee shot.<br />

as the Knights have done<br />

well in tournaments, too.<br />

They took first place Oswego<br />

Panther Stableford Tournament<br />

on Aug. 10 to open<br />

the season. They were third<br />

at the next day at the Addison<br />

Trail invite behind statecaliber<br />

programs Hinsdale<br />

Central and York, and then<br />

beat out Lockport to capture<br />

first place on Aug. 26 in the<br />

Homewood-Flossmoor Invitational<br />

at Balmoral Woods<br />

Golf Course.<br />

Plus it’s a family affair for<br />

Central.<br />

Please see Golf, 41<br />

Senior leader E.J. Charles hits his drive. He posted the<br />

fourth Knights score with a 38.<br />

Brian Sterling, who posted a 36, hits his approach shot<br />

onto the green.

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