Veteran golfer Busky leads HHS to sectional

HUNTLEY – Brendan Busky paced five Huntley scores at the HHS Class 3A regional and finished in a three-way tie for second place.  Busky shot an even par 72 Sept. 28.

“It’s been a dream of mine since freshman year to make state,” Busky said. “I was able to drive the ball well and chip and putt good today.”

Busky will be joined at the Dundee-Crown Class 3A Sectional Oct. 3 at Randall Oaks Golf Course as HHS won the third and final team qualifying spot. Barrington’s 289 score won the regional team trophy while Lake Zurich totaled a 318 and Huntley carded a 320.

“We knew coming in it would be tough,” Huntley coach Collin Kalamatas said. “It  was a back-and-forth battle between ourselves, Hampshire and Cary-Grove. I was impressed with the way we played under pressure. We’ve had a lot of close matches this season, including the conference tournament.”

The coach was pleased with Busky’s team-leading effort. It included three birdie holes of 18.

“It’s just his work ethic,” Kalamatas said. “He plays a lot of golf and works here (at Pinecrest). He loves the game.”

The coach also praised the play of second-place golfer Nathan Elm’s 80; Hakala’s 81 and Taig Bhathal fired an 85. Jacob Gerdus carded a 91. The advancement to sectional Oct. 3 at Randall Oaks makes it three times in four years advancing to that level.

Busky, who played on the junior varsity team freshman and sophomore seasons, described his approach.

“I play here a lot over the summer,” Busky said. “For me, it’s about focus, staying dehydrated and having a lot of sleep.”