Red Raiders boys golfers look to make impact on FVC

HUNTLEY – Huntley’s boys golf season started on a pair of strong performances at the Crystal Lake South Invite Aug. 11 and with a dual match win over McHenry Aug. 15. HHS hosted a triangular with Barrington and Mundelein Aug. 16.

Senior Brendan Busky led the Red Raiders at all three events.

Busky shot a 39 in the 165-170 win over McHenry after firing a round of 77 at CLS’s meet, where HHS was second by five shots. Busky shot a 37-37 for a 74 in the 18-hole event at Blackstone Golf Club and earned medalist honors.

“Busky is head-and-shoulders above everyone else so far. He has put in a lot of work in his short game,” Red Raiders coach Collin Kalamatas said. He added one plus for the senior is he works summers at Pinecrest Golf Club.

Also contributing to the 165-170 win over the Warriors were: juniors Nooa Hakala and Nathan Elm, who both shot a 41; sophomore Taig Bhathal and Tyler Lodewyck shot 44s.

At Blackstone, Busky shot a 37-37 for his 74; Elm fired a 39-41, 80; Hakala, 40-41, 81; Jacob Gordus, 45-43, 85; Sam Locascsi, 39-44, 93 and Dean Trevas, 45-45, 90. Mundelein had the top team score at 289 followed  by Barrington’s 316 and Huntley’s 320.

Kalamatas is pleased with results so far.

“It was a good result at the dual and CL South Invite,” Kalamatas said. “I’m looking forward to how we do in the coming eight weeks of the FVC. The CL South meet is a good preseason for the conference tournament.”

Hakala and Elm both had good summers, the coach said, as Hakala won the boys 16-18 McHenry County Jr. Golf division with Elm second and Elm was also competing in Illinois Junior Golf Association events.

The Red Raiders ended third at the Fox Valley Conference meet last season and qualified for sectional.

“The team has a goal of making the state tournament in mind,” seventh-year coach Kalamates said of 2022.