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| SportsFriday, October 12, 2007 9:44 PM CDT |
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St. Viator hold slight lead; West's Shelton in 7th in 3A golf
BLOOMINGTON — Conner Daniels would be the first to admit he’s no Luke Guthrie, in body shape or golf ability. Yet the burly Daniels enjoyed a start to the Class 3A State Tournament that Guthrie, his well-known Quincy High School teammate, gladly would have taken. In fact, probably no one in the 91-year history of state tourneys ever had this kind of start. Daniels had everyone buzzing at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course Friday morning when he began his round eagle-birdie-birdie. This was the same guy who shot 87 in the sectional only four days earlier. “It was totally unexpected. It was one of those things I felt I was almost asleep out there playing,” said Daniels, the Blue Devils’ No. 5 player. “I said, ‘Just keep this going.’ It was unbelievable.” Daniels was more than happy with his even-par 72. That tied Guthrie, the defending champion and University of Illinois recruit, for second individually as Quincy fired a 301 total that is a stroke behind St. Viator heading into today’s final round. “We’re right where we wanted to be,” said St. Viator coach Jack Halpin, whose team finished second last year. “It worked out exactly like I thought it would with Quincy. They’re a great team and have wonderful players. I’ve got to think we’re in good shape for tomorrow.” Barrington’s Ross Frankenberg went 3-under-par on the back nine to shoot 70. St. Viator’s Danny Stringfellow is in a three-way group at 73. Normal West’s Dave Shelton is seventh after a 74 as the Wildcats fired 315 in their state debut and stand fifth, eight shots behind third-place Hinsdale Central. Daniels started his round on the par-5 10th. His 3-wood second shot stopped 6 feet away. He sank the eagle putt and a similar length birdie putt on the next hole before chipping in at No. 12. “I was smiling and saying, ‘Keep swinging the club the way you are,’ ” he said. Daniels had two bogeys and another birdie to make the turn at 3-under 33 heading to the more difficult front nine. Although he didn’t make another birdie, Daniels avoided disaster to tie his career best round. Guthrie seemed ready to seize the lead until he suffered his fourth 3-putt of the round at No. 16 for a double bogey. He parred the last two holes, but knew the course was there for the taking with only a slight breeze. “I’m just struggling with putting. It’s been the story of my season so far,” said Guthrie. “I hit the ball really well and could have shot a real low round. I’ll shoot it tomorrow.” Frankenberg bogeyed the par-3 eighth. That put him 1-over, but the junior knew there were plenty of opportunities ahead. He sank a 25-foot eagle putt from the fringe on the 10th and, after a bogey on No. 12, added birdies on Nos. 14 and 15. “I just wanted to keep the ball in play on the back side and make sure I didn’t make any stupid mistakes because when the wind swirls around here it’s easy to do that,” he said. Birdies on Nos. 8, 10 and 11 put Shelton at 2-under and near the top of the leader board. However, he faltered slightly with double bogeys on Nos. 12 and 16. “I just wanted to post something around even or a couple under. I wasn’t thinking about the 60s, just posting something solid,” said Shelton, who has battled a strep throat this week. “I didn’t have one terrible shot. I just made a few small mistakes that hurt me with my doubles.” West’s Jeff Bragg was 1-over before hitting his pitch shot into the water on No. 14. He bogeyed four of his last five holes for 77. Other West counting scores were by Drew Meiner (81) and Ross Leary (83). “Both Dave and Jeff could have finished better, but I thought before the day if they could be around 75 that would be good. They did their job,” said West coach Tim Franz. “Unfortunately, they did not get backed up with anything very solid. That hurt us as a team.” Get area high school sports scores and statistics at Varsity Sports. E-mail this story | Print this story | Search archives | RSS Show comments |  Hide comments | Hide comments on all stories |
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