Their biggest match of the season was against the best in the state where Bishop McNamara and Manteno high schools enjoyed a very successful weekend of golf.

The Irish ended their season at the Class A state meet in Bloomington Saturday, Oct. 18 finishing 13th with a two-day total of 658 after being in 11th place following Friday's play at the Par 72 Prairie Vista Golf Club.

Manteno's Andrew Frame finished state play in 17th with a two-day total of 154. The sophomore's first round began with a shotgun start at the 13th hole and ended with just one marred score, a double on the par-5, 7th hole.

A 2-over 74 had Frame in a three-way tie for seventh place entering Saturday's play that forced players to battle gusty conditions. Carding a steady 80 (40-40), Frame enjoyed his second trip to state, but it was his first complete weekend of play after being forced to withdraw last year because of a wrist injury.

Paul Lang's 75 led McNamara on the first day of play and had the senior tied with two others for 15th while sophomore Scott Bunosky was in the upper field with a 79. Lang finished the weekend with 82 on Saturday and Bunosky a 95 as sophomore Doug Keller scored an 83 Friday and an 81 on Saturday to claim the second best showing behind Lang.

Manteno High School's Andrew Frame shows his putting form that earned the sophomore a trip to state and the best area showing.
Herald photo by Brendan Olszewski

Senior Kyle Decker backed up the play of Lang and Keller firing a steady two-day total of 169 (85-84) to finish third among Irish golfers. It was Derek Jaenicke's weekend total 29 over that accounted for McNamara's fourth score shooting 85 and 88 for a 173, while sophomore Mike Martin offered a 178 (89-89). Saturday's play mirrored the conditions Tuesday, Oct. 14, when golfers were battling for a state trip on a dreary, rainy and windy sectional at Railside. The conditions tested the player's ability not only to overcome the Gibson City course, but the weather as well.

Keller led the Irish with an 86 followed by an 88 from Martin, a 90 by Lang and a 94 from Decker. The team's third place finish meant the group trip to the state course. Frame qualified for the state match with a third place 82 (40-42) becoming the only Panther golfer to advance after teammate Jacob Reardanz carded a 102.