New nine, new outlook: Chargers lock in after making turn, fight way into top eight at state golf

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Wesley Robertson intended to hit his driver off the tee on the Prairie Vista Golf Course’s 367-yard, par-4 18th hole to wrap up his round Friday.

When the Illini West freshman boys golfer learned a par was all he needed to help the Chargers live to play another day, Robertson went back to his bag.

“He put the driver away and pulled out an iron and parred,” Illini West coach Christine Murphy said. “That really was the start of it.”

Three of Chargers’ top four golfers parred the final hole, finishing a stellar comeback on the back nine that moved them into the top eight in the team standings in the Class 1A state tournament and avoided getting cut after the first 18 holes.

“We’re making it to (Saturday) and hopefully we’ll play better,” Chargers sophomore Nick Bruns said. “It’s a fun weekend.”

Illini West posted a 344 team score, leaving it in a three-way tie for sixth. The Chargers were one stroke ahead of Alton Marquette and Rockford Lutheran, who were among the four teams which won’t tee it up Saturday, and are just six strokes out of fifth.

They’ll be joined Saturday by Liberty senior Blake Arnold, who shot a 5-over 77 and is tied for 12 individually.

“We live to play another day,” Murphy said. “The guys are ecstatic. The goal coming in was to play on day two, and here we are.”

It wasn’t without worry.

By the time all six of Illini West’s golfers made the turn following the front nine, the Chargers were in last place and things looked bleak.

“At a couple of points during the round, a couple of guys said, ‘Well, it’s over,’” Murphy said. “Nolan even said, ‘Well, my senior season is done.’ He had just hit one out of bounds and you could sense his frustration. But we were saying, ‘Hang with it. Hang with it.’”

Memories of Thursday’s practice round helped.

Murphy said the Chargers collectively liked the back nine better than the front nine.

“We talked to everybody and said, ‘Hey, there’s nowhere to go but up. Let’s relax and have a great back nine,’” Murphy said.

It’s exactly what they did.

“We all knew we had to make something happen,” Bruns said.

He led the charge. After shooting a 7-over 43 on the front nine, Bruns found his groove wby playing even par on the back nine. In fact, he was 1-under on his final six holes, picking up a birdie on the par-5 16th to finish at 7-over 79.

“Wedges were feeling good,” Bruns said. “Putts were feeling good and drives were going straight.”

Illini West senior Nolan Deitrich played his final five holes in 1-under and overcame a few hiccups to post an 83. Colby Robertson had two birdies on the back nine and shot an 84, and Wesley Robertson posted a 98.

Collectively, the Chargers were 22 strokes better on the back nine.

“They guys were just playing tight,” Murphy said. “We weren’t putting well. We weren’t scoring well. They were just nervous I think.

“When they got to the back nine, guys started playing and we started moving up the leaderboard. I’m proud of the way they hung in and made this possible for themselves.”