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August 21, 2023

Huntley golfer Taig Bhathal
Steve Peterson
Huntley golfer Taig Bhathal

Sports • August 21, 2023

Boys golf ready to build on success

By

HUNTLEY — The Huntley boys golf team is off to a good start, with a big accomplishment already in the books.

Junior Taig Bhathal shot a score of 71 at Bridgestone Golf Club in Marengo Aug. 15 to become the first Red Raiders golfer to break par (72)since 2014. He edged Drew Scheenberg of Barrington by one shot for medalist honors. HHS finished with a team total of 321 strokes, to edge Mundelein’s 321 score. Barrington won the three-team event with a total of 289.

Senior Nate Elm was next with a score of 80 in the 18-holes event. Sam Locascio fired an 82 while Brandon Boroski and Jeremy Chadwick shot 86.

The Red Raiders are poised to continue to build off last year’s success of a Fox Valley Conference tournament championship with a fifth score win over Cary-Grove. They finished third to qualify for sectional advancement for the fourth time in five seasons. Elm finished fifth in the FVC and just missed qualifying for the Class 2A state meet by one shot at sectional.

A trio of seniors – Elm, Nooa Hakala and Locascio, lead the charge for the Red Raiders. Also returning include seniors Boroski and Scottie Pruyn and juniors Bhathal and Kyle Helwink.

“Three kids we will lean on to be our leaders are Elm, Hakala and Locascio,” head coach Colin Kalamatas said. “Bhathal should have a break through year this year. He showed flashed of really good golf in his first varsity season as a sophomore last year. As a junior his role will change to being more of an every day contributor. We’re excited to see his progress.”

“We have had many of our kids active in the Illinois Junior Golf Association and the McHenry County Junior Golf Association,” Kalamatas said. “A lot of competitive golf is being played by these kids, which really prepares them for our high school season.”

The eighth year head coach said the team has set goals for this fall’s competition.

“A yearly goal in our program is to have our team qualify for the IHSA Sectional, the top three teams from regional advance. We really try to make this sport feel like a team sport more than an individual sport. We compete against each other in practice all the time so we can make each other better and elevate our team to the next level. That will be our goal again this season,” Kalamatas said. “We compete in a few challenging non-conference tournaments. Our schedule is meant to prepare us for post-season golf. Our conference is very competitive and we get a good test each time we compete with another FVC school. We are excited to get that opportunity again this year,” Kalamatas said.

The Red Raiders competed in the FVC Summer Classic at Boulder Ridge Country Club Aug. 10. Elm led the way with a 78 and Bhathal recorded an 81.

“It was a good first tournament for us,” Kalamatas said. “We definitely felt like we could score a little better, but it was a good measuring stick for our team.”