Storm sixth in first day at State meet

BY CHAD DARE

BLOOMINGTON — The Salt Fork golf team not only made its first appearance at the IHSA Class 1A State Tournament on Friday, it was also the latest date for most of them to be playing golf in Illinois.

Salt Fork found itself in sixth place with a team score of 324, 36-over-par and 13 strokes behind the first-day leaders, Effingham St. Anthony and Mount Carmel.

“Today had as much to do with survival as it did with competition,” said Salt Fork junior Jordan Danzl, who shot an 83. “The conditions were extremely tough.”

And Danzl was one of the two Salt Fork players that previously played in the state tournament.

The other was junior David Keenan, who had the Storm’s best round with a 6-over 78, good enough for an 18th-place tie individually.

Shane Convery of Raymond Lincolnwood is the first-round leader after firing a remarkable 1-under 71.

Golfers not only had to play the challenging par-72 Prairie Vista Golf Course, they also had to battle cold and windy conditions along with a hail-like precipitation.

“You just have to adjust your game to the conditions,” Keenan said. “We didn’t play our best rounds of golf today, but we can still accomplish our goals of a top-four finish.”

Salt Fork is seven strokes behind Rockford Lutheran (317) for third, while Winnetka North Shore County Day was fourth with a first-round score of 318 and Benton is just one shot ahead of the Storm in fifth with a round of 323.

“If it wasn’t for this being the state tournament, I don’t think there is any way that I would be playing golf today,” said Salt Fork junior Mat Bowen, who had an 83. “I think we are going to come back strong (today) and challenge for a top-three spot.’’

One reason for that optimism is the fact that Bowen hit three balls in the water hazards on Friday and Danzl hit two in the water hazards and one out of bounds.

Junior Ryan Anderson had the second best round for the Storm with an 80.

Today’s final round begins at 8:30 a.m. 

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