Hurricanes at home in wind

Marian Central's Gordie Mitchard hits from the rough on the 12th hole Monday during the Hurricanes' 163-169 victory against Grayslake Central at Crystal Woods in Woodstock. (Lauren M. Anderson - landerson@nwherald.com)

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WOODSTOCK – Playing in adverse weather conditions can wreak havoc on a golfer's game, and with winds gusting more than 30 mph at Crystal Woods on Monday, Marian Central's boys golf team was competing not only against Grayslake Central, but against the elements, too.
 
“You have to club up and hit the ball low on days like this and hope to get lucky on some holes,” Marian senior Kevin Sweeney said.
 
Sweeney shot a 3-over-par 39, and teammate Gordie Mitchard took medalist honors with a 37 to lead the Hurricanes (11-3) to a 163-169 non-conference victory. Evan Mass (43) and Matt Roberts (44) also contributed to Marian's victory.

Dylan Granquist had the low round for Grayslake Central (7-5) with a 40.

“I hit no fairways up until the last hole, and I scrambled to make up-and-downs,” Mitchard said.
 
Mitchard’s first birdie came on the par-5 15th hole, where, despite hooking his drive left into the rough, Mitchard landed his third shot 2 feet from the hole from 50 yards out and made a downhill putt for birdie. His other birdie came on the final hole, the par-5 18th. Mitchard drove the ball in the fairway for the first time in his round and made a 15-foot putt to finish his round at 1 over.
 
“I was really making putts today, and was I able to make a couple of birdies because of it,” Mitchard said.
 
The victory was the last regular-season match of the year for the Hurricanes, who take part in the Suburban Christian Conference Tournament today at Blackberry Oaks in Bristol.

Marian won the Suburban Catholic Conference Tournament last year, and standing in the way of a repeat championship is Wheaton Academy, one of the new teams in the Suburban Christian, which consists mostly of former Suburban Catholic teams.
 
“Wheaton is going to be tough to beat, and if we can take them down then we can beat anyone,” Mitchard said.