Logan Malloy’s golf notebook

Is three a crowd?

Not if you’re Lockport coach Matt Eber, who’s been looking for a consistent third scorer to team behind headliners Gehrig Hollatz and Luke Trent.

While Hollatz and Trent continue to be one of the top duos in the Southland, they’re no longer the only ones contending for medalist honors. Teammate Matt Sheldon has emerged as a viable threat out of the No. 3 spot. He recently fired an even-par 72 at Green Garden in Frankfort to win the Homewood-Flossmoor/Providence Coed Classic.

“Matt is playing great golf right now and is working on his game a ton,” Eber said. “He is really a great example to follow for his teammates. I have been really proud of his attitude and effort.”

Sheldon’s victory at Green Garden came just two days after he put up the top score in a dual meet against Andrew. His play could go a long way in supplementing the scores of Hollatz and Trent.

Hollatz, whose father Mark is coach at Lemont, is scheduled for an official visit Wednesday at Butler.

Hollatz was one of four players from Illinois — along with St. Laurence’s Jordan Velez — to qualify for the U.S. Junior Am in Texas over the summer. A total of 160 athletes across the nation made the cut.

“And it was only $25 to qualify,” Hollatz said with a laugh. “Even though I didn’t play that well, it was a great experience.”

After a few narrow defeats in sectional play, Hollatz said the team is “looking to shoot around 300 each time out” in hopes of breaking through to the state tournament.

It’s one of the most loaded Lockport teams in years. Eber called it a “great problem” to have so many players competing for a spot in the lineup. John Parker, Massimo Onesto, Andrew Crowe and Trevor Gorz all are in the mix.

Girls: Thrice is nice in SouthWest Suburban

The SouthWest Suburban Conference continues to pump out top talent. This season, the conference is led by three Division I recruits: Lincoln-Way East’s Kelly Sterling (UIC), Sandburg’s Frankie Saban (Bradley) and Lincoln-Way West’s Alexis Biedrzycki (Michigan State).

All three have the pedigree to contend for a podium finish at state. Biedrzycki finished fourth as a sophomore and Sterling never has been outside the top 30.

The Southland hasn’t had more than a pair of top-20 finishers at state since 2010, when five players from the area finished 16th or better.

Boys: Nothing but depth for Providence

Few teams in the state can go as deep as Providence. That much was evident Saturday at The Sanctuary, where coach John Platt brought two teams to the Celtics’ 28-team invitational. The starters walked away with the tournament title with a 295 and the No. 2 team finished sixth at 328.

Providence’s Kevin McEneany, who finished eighth with a 2-over 74, said there was only one tournament so far this season where the Celtics’ No. 1 team had a player shoot in the 80s.