Bittersweet ending for Huntley brothers

Huntley freshman Trent Craig shot a 78 to tie for ninth place Monday at the Fremd Sectional. Craig beat his brother, Ryan, a junior, in a three-hole playoff for the final qualifying spot for the state tournament. (Jenny Kane - jkane@shawmedia.com)

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

HOFFMAN ESTATES – Huntley junior Ryan Craig experienced a moment of clairvoyance as he walked off the course Monday at Hilldale with a 78.

Craig learned his freshman brother, Trent, also shot a 78 and figured their scores would be right around the cutoff at the IHSA Class 3A Fremd Golf Sectional.

“Before I even posted my score, I said, ‘We’re going to a playoff,’ ” Craig said.

He was absolutely correct. For a long time, it looked like both were in, but the final individual score posted was a 77. That meant the Craigs and Prospect’s Josh Johnson would meet in a playoff for the final two state-qualifying spots.

Johnson parred the first playoff hole at No. 10, and the Craigs both bogeyed. Both Craigs birdied No. 18, the second playoff hole.

Then, Trent drained an 8-foot putt for par on the third playoff hole, again at No. 10, and Ryan’s 6-foot putt stayed just left of the cup, giving Trent the final spot.

“When I made mine, it was a sigh of relief,” Trent said. “I had good feelings and bad at the same time when Ryan missed his. That was tough. It stinks to beat your brother, but it had to be one of us [winning].”

Crystal Lake South’s Nick Robles, last year’s Class 3A state runner-up, shot 73 to take third and claim one of the individual spots. Jacobs junior Sean Kozak shot 74 and also made it. Trent Craig was the only other individual qualifier from the sectional.

Pam Craig watched the playoff holes from a distance knowing at least one of her sons was headed to state.

“I wish it could have been both of them,” she said. “It’s very bittersweet. Ryan probably will learn something extremely valuable that will help him be a better player down the line.”

The second playoff hole was thrilling as Trent chipped in for a birdie-3 from a few feet off the green, then Ryan made a 6-foot putt to also birdie that hole. They exchanged fist bumps and went back to No. 10 for another hole.

After their regulation rounds, Red Raiders coach Jim Rolando sent the Craigs to the range to hit balls and stay warm in case of the playoff.

“I wanted to give them something productive to do,” Rolando said. “There are so many ups and downs emotionally watching scores come in.”

Robles started the day with two birdies on the first five holes, but then had three consecutive bogeys. He stayed strong through the round to finish at 2-over-par.

“I’ve been in these situations enough that I’m able to focus on what I’m doing and keep it pretty simple,” Robles said. “I told myself on No. 17 I had two holes to make a move and set the goal of being 1-under for those two holes, and I reached that.”

This will be Robles’ third trip to state. Kozak, who was third at last week’s Barrington Regional, earned his first trip to state.

“It was taking forever out there and it didn’t seem like anyone was doing well in my group,” Kozak said. “I just stayed consistent and my putter was really working well out there. I made some putts that sometimes I don’t make.”