Bhathal cards best round in victory

HUNTLEY — Paced by a nine-hole score of 33 from senior Taig Bhathal, Huntley’s boys golf team dominated McHenry to a 149-166 win in Fox Valley Conference dual Sept. 10.

“Bhathal had three birdies (hole Nos. one, two and five) and six pars,” Huntley coach Collin  Kalamatas said. “He was so solid on the greens, making a ton of putts from outside of 10 feet. He was just so consistent putting the ball. And he really gave himself a chance by being very good off the tee. He was finding fairways all day long.”

There was some drama at the end of Bhathal’s round.

“Bhathal just missed a birdie putt on hole No. 9 that would have tied our school record for low round in a 9-hole match. Jake Grabner and Ryan Craig both shot 32s in 2012. It was Bhathal’s best round as a high school golfer,” Kalamatas said.

The Red Raiders evened their dual match record in the FVC at 2-2 with the victory over the Warriors. Bhathal had company in breaking 40 as Carson Elder fired a 36 and Jack Policheri had a 39.

Nate Haisch was right behind with a 41 round followed by  Gray Birkmeier’s 44 and Wyatt Ellis had a 48. Nick Marmot rounded the scoring for Huntley with a 53.

The Red Raiders lost a close match to Crystal Lake Central, 159-156 at Red Tail Country Club Sept. 9. Policheri was the low score for Huntley as he shot a 37; Austin Matich and Elder each shot a 40 while Bhathal shot a 41 along with Gray Birkmeier.

Huntley fell to Jacobs in a FVC match Sept. 12, 155-168. Bhathal shot a round of 40, while Matich had a 41; Birkmeier 42; Policheri and Ellis, 45 and Elder, 47. HHS was 2-3 in FVC dual matches.

Bhathal had fired a 79 at the Cary-Grove hosted invitational at Foxford Country Club. Matisch shot an 80.