Michigan State commit Scott Dunsire gets on fire for Naperville C.

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BLOOMINGTON — Naperville Central’s Scott Dunsire could have mailed it in after a poor start to his round Saturday at the Class 3A state tournament. But that’s not how Dunsire conducts business.

“It was pretty bad; I was 5-over through eight holes,” Dunsire said. “I just decided not to give up. It was a big charge for me on the back nine.”

That resolve helped Dunsire card birdies on Nos. 9, 11, 12 and 16 to finished 4-over 76 at The Den at Fox Creek on Saturday. His two-day total of 153 was good for 22nd place in the 112-player field.

“Making it to state was the biggest thing for me,” Dunsire said. “Once the state tournament came around, I knew I was playing good. I just kept my head in it and kept grinding.”

It was a good week for the senior, who advanced from a playoff at sectionals. He also recently committed to play at Michigan State.

“Playing on this team with a good group of guys has been an awesome atmosphere,” Dunsire said. “Hopefully the next four years playing college golf, I can bring that to the team.”

Naperville Central coach Barry Baldwin admitted that Dunsire won’t be easily replaced.

“He’s an even better person than he is a golfer,” Baldwin said. “And he’s a pretty darn good golfer. He’s one of the best kids I’ve ever had.”

Hinsdale Central’s Kenneth Li, last season’s Class 3A runner-up, stormed away with the individual crown with a 4-under 140 (73-67). Li led Hinsdale Central to its third straight state title with a 9-over 585, beating New Trier (606) and Barrington (610) in the 12-team field.

Benet’s Ben Johnson placed 29th with a 155. Johnson rebounded with a 74 on Saturday after posting an 81 on Day 1. His teammate, George Carroll, carded a 168.

Naperville North’s Griffin Brown placed 50th with a 159. Batavia’s Andrew Nelson had a 169.

Marmion’s Nicholas Huggins (158) and Jackson Clark (161) combined to improve by nine strokes on Day 2 after posting 82s on Friday.

“We were a little disappointed with the 82s, so we just came out trying to have fun,” said Huggins, who rebounded with a 76. “Some of these kids down here are ridiculously good. I feel like that’s what I need to be the next two years for our team. I want to shoot in the 60s for our guys.”

Mac Cowen, a sophomore at Aurora Central Catholic, placed 34th in Class 2A at Illinois State’s Weibring Golf Club. Cowen finished 17-over 161.

In Class 1A, Aurora Christian placed eighth with a 693. El Paso-Gridley won the small-school crown with a 619 at Prairie Vista.

Aurora Christian could contend for the title in the next few years. The Eagles started four sophomores — Brett Seward, Devin Johnson, Chase Lietz and Matt Buhrt — and freshman Nick Geen.

Seward led the team with a 160, which placed him 23rd. Johnson (167) and senior Kollin Schalhamer (177) were next in line.

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