South’s Robles, Jacobs’ Cahill make up for last year

Nick Robles of Crystal Lake South hits from a bunker onto the 18th green during the IHSA Class 3A Lake Forest Sectional on Monday at Lake Bluff Golf Club. (Nick Dentamaro - ndentamaro@nwherald.com) (Nick Dentamaro ())

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LAKE BLUFF – On the inside, there were nerves and anxiety to be sure, fueled by the memories of last year’s unsuccessful sectional.

On the outside, Crystal Lake South sophomore Nick Robles and Jacobs junior Scott Cahill were pictures of composure, as cool as the 50-degree temperatures in which they competed at Monday’s IHSA Class 3A Lake Forest Sectional Golf Tournament at Lake Bluff Golf Club.

This time, neither had anything to worry about. Both finished with scores of even-par 72 to secure spots Friday and Saturday in the Class 3A Golf State Tournament at The Den at Fox Creek in Bloomington.

Cary-Grove senior Matt Efflandt will make his third trip to Class 3A state. He was on the Trojans’ qualifying team as a sophomore, then made it as an individual last year. He shot 76 to tie for the final qualifying spot.

Robles and Cahill were Northwest Herald All-Area first-team selections last season, but missing state left their seasons somewhat unfulfilled.

“I was definitely thinking about it,” Cahill said. “I tried to play conservative and not overdo it. I tried to stay as calm as I could.”

Cahill birdied three of the final four holes. He made a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 15, a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 16, then hit his wedge about 3 feet from the pin on No. 18 for a tap-in birdie.

Robles said he was able to block out last year’s sectional.

“I just wanted to put myself in contention with a good score,” Robles said. “I just took it one shot at a time. I tried to play calm, simple golf – get on the fairway, get on the green.”

Robles had three birdies and three bogeys in his round.

“I’m really proud [to go to state],” Robles said. “I hope I can go out and represent my school well and bring home a title.”

Cahill was 2 under at one point, then 2 over early on the back nine before closing strong.

“I’ve come a long way with my composure,” Cahill said. “My putting really saved me. If you can’t strike the ball well, you have to do something else right, and I was able to hold on.”

Lake Forest won the sectional team title on its home course, shooting 1-over 289 as a group. Carmel, with 309, took the other team state berth.

Lake Forest’s Peter Marshall won the individual title with a 70, edging Boylan’s Corey Konieczki on the first playoff hole.

Efflandt finished his round and figured he was not going back to Bloomington.

“I came in thinking I was out, that the cut was going to be 74,” Efflandt said. “I didn’t hit the ball that great, I was just getting up and down a lot. It means a lot [to get to state]. There’s a lot of great players there.”