BLOOMINGTON — If four-year stater Mickey Brick is going to remember anything about his playing tenure at Providence, it will be the way the Celtics fought back Saturday at the Class 3A State Finals following a less-than-stellar start.
After posting a 320 on Friday to sit in eighth place, Providence rallied with a 300 on Saturday to finish fourth at The Den at Fox Creek.
“Just look at these guys,” Brick said pointing at his team. “We all play hard for each other. It’s been a blast. It’s going to be rough not playing with them anymore.”
The Celtics finished behind Hindsale Central, which won its third straight state championship with a 9-over 585, New Trier (606) and Barrington (610).
Ricky Costello garnered sixth individually to lead Providence with a two-day score of 150 (79-71). He was one of four players to finish under-par on Day 2 of the 12-team, 112-player tournament.
“We had nothing to lose after our first day,” said Costello, who improved 96 spots from his finish last season as a freshman. “We wanted to go out and prove ourselves. I think we did. We all worked so hard at this. We put our heart into it.”
Brick finished 26th with a 154. Dom Cascino (157) and four-year starter Will McCabe (160) added contributing scores. Kevin McEneany (162) and Mike Cascino (163) also played well on the second day.
“They’re basically all just great kids,” Providence coach John Platt said. “They act like adults and it was really easy for me to coach them.”
Hinsdale Central’s Kenneth Li, last season’s runner-up, shot a sparkling 4-under 140 to run away with the individual crown. Maine East’s Orion Yamat was five strokes back in second.
Homewood-Flossmoor placed 12th overall with a 674, but the Vikings should be back after playing with five juniors in the lineup. Jack Mulligan led the way with a 163. Preston Genett fired a 3-over 75 on Saturday to finish with a 166. Ted Wick, the lone senior, had a 173.
Lincoln-Way Central’s Anthony Bolden took 33rd with rounds of 80 and 76. Bolden’s teammate, Scott Mueller, tied Lcokport’s Luke Trent with a 160.
Sandburg’s Brett Katalinic (166) and Austin Wojtczak (167) were also in attendance.
St. Laurence’s Jordan Velez garnered 14th in Class AA at Illinois State’s Weibring Golf Club with a 12-over 154. Velez, a four-time state qualifier, earned his best finish ever after carding a 75 on Saturday.
“There are a lot of great things I can take away,” Velez said. “You’re never out of a golf tournament. My mindset was, ‘There’s always a way.’ I stayed positive and finished pretty strong.”
Lemont placed ninth as a team with a 661. The Indians were led by a 34th-place run from Matt Groebe (161). Dan Orednick (166), Jeremy Pellegrine (166) and Joe Pavlovic (167) also scored.
Beecher’s Michael Barber placed fifth in Class A with a 151. Beecher took ninth as a team with a 701.
