Nothing was going to stifle Lincoln-Way East junior Jake White Tuesday at the SouthWest Suburban Red tournament.
Not even windy conditions or a pair of former champions breathing down his neck.
White buried six birdies as he notched a 2-over-par 74 for medalist honors at The Sanctuary in New Lenox, topping teammate Matt Contey and Lincoln-Way Central’s Tony Kestel by a single stroke.
“That’s the most birdies I’ve had in a round this year,” White said. “It feels really good because those two (Contey and Kestel) are great players.”
East, which resided in the SWSC Blue before switching to the Red this season for enrollment purposes, stopped Lincoln-Way Central’s run of four straight conference titles.
The Griffins shot a 309 to down Central by eight strokes, winning their second straight conference crown in the process.
“It’s a great feeling going out on top as a senior,” said Contey, the SWSC Blue titleholder the past two seasons. “I’m a little disappointed I didn’t repeat again, but if anybody was going to beat me, I’m glad it’s my teammate.”
Lee Hill and Anthony Colangelo added 80s for the Griffins to finish in the top 10.
“They’re a great team,” Kestel, the reigning conference champion, said. “We just didn’t play well enough as a team to win, but congrats to them.”
Kestel said he was 1-under after hole No. 14 but “played poorly over the last few holes.”
Central’s Luke Bannerman (79) and Anthony Bolden (80) finished fifth and sixth, respectively.
Bradley came in third with a 324 behind fourth-place finisher Kyle Dwyer’s 78.
Lincoln-Way North’s Spencer Town placed ninth with an 81 to lift the Phoenix (332) to a fourth-place finish in the six-team tournament.
Central will have another shot at the Griffins Oct. 8 at the Lemont 3A Regional. White and Co. will be waiting.
“This was a good win,” White said. “It should give us some confidence moving forward.”
