New Trier boys golf repeats to collect 10th championship in program history

The Trevians held on to their spot as top dogs of Illinois golf over the weekend.

New Trier survived a late surge from fellow state power Hinsdale Central to win the IHSA Class 3A championship for the second straight season, putting up a two-day score of 598, or 22-above par, on Friday-Saturday, Oct. 6-7, at The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course in Bloomington. The score is an eight-round average of 74.75 (4 golfers, 2 rounds each).

The state championship is the 10th in New Trier boys golf history (3 at New Trier East), and it’s the program’s first back-to-back titles since New Trier East and West merged in 1981.

“It’s such an honor to go out there and defend your title,” Trevians coach Pete Drevline said. “They were determined. There are not too many teams that can say (they are back-to-back champions). They had a bullseye on their back and went out and performed and got to wake up the next morning as state champions.”

Before 2022’s championship, New Trier could not get over the runnerup hump, collecting seven second-place state finishes in 12 seasons (since 2009) under Drevline.

Now, New Trier joins the list of repeat IHSA Class 3A champs. Hinsdale Central won seven straight crowns from 2012-2018. Lake Forest repeated in 2010 and 2011, and St. Viator got a three-peat between 2007 and 2009.

But it did not come easy.

After the first day, New Trier and Hinsdale Central were tied at 13 above par (301), but the Trevs quickly took control on the final day. New Trier picked up three strokes after the first hole and after some back and forth, three more on Hole 10 and two each on 11 and 12 to build a nine-stroke lead on Hinsdale Central (+15 to +24).

Later on the back 9, though, Hinsdale Central slashed its deficit to just two strokes. The Red Devils picked up five strokes between holes 16 and 17.

The Trevians, though, clung to their two-stroke lead on the final hole.

“You’re always nervous (in a close match). It’s never over until the last putt on 18,” Drevline said. “But our last guys coming in where studs, in Johnny (Creamean) and Noah (Zyung). We felt confident with those two guys pulling up the rear.”

Both seniors played huge roles in the team championship.

Creamean, 2022’s individual state champ, keyed the Trevians’ final-round surge with his two-under 70. He saved his best for last, going three-under par over the final seven holes, to help his team hang on.

With the effort, Creamean, who recently committed to play golf for Butler University, climbed into a tie for third place (+1, 145) — just two strokes off the lead — on the weekend. Conant’s Nicolas Simon fired a five-under 67 on Day 2 to surge to the top of the leaderboard and the state championship at an overall one-over 143 and Moline’s Isaac Rumler was one stroke back (+2, 144).

“Johnny has been a special player for us his whole career,” Drevline said. “He takes a lot of pride in how he plays. He was determined. That back nine is just the type of player he’s been for his entire career. … He took charge on the back nine.”

Zyung set the table for the Trevians. His one-under 71 — which included an eagle on Hole 10 — on Friday led the Trevians and had him in a first place tie going into the second day.

He finished the tournament tied with three other players, including teammate Boden Rice, a junior, at a two-day score of 149. The results delivered All-State medals to Zyung and Rice.

Senior Connor Gray was the Trevians final scorer with a two-day total of 157 (78, 79), tying him for 30th. Senior Oliver Barr, who tied for 41st with a 160 (83, 77), and sophomore Logan Keeter (78th, 171) also competed for the Trevians.

While the Trevians will lose a lot of talent to graduation, Drevline believes the seniors set up their teammates for future success.

“These guys are great golfers and great role models that the younger guys in the program can look up to,” he said. “They want their turn and it provides them motivation to hold up the standard of New Trier golf.”

Highland Park’s Kalin Patel finished the weekend with a total of 163, shooting an 81 on Friday and 82 on Saturday.

In Class 1A at Prairie Vista Golf Course, North Shore Country Day placed seventh as a team.

The Raiders, who won their sectional tournament and placed second in state a year ago, were led by senior Max Greenberg Winnick and his two-day total of 155 — good enough for 17th place. Junior Jonathan Wiggins tied for 29th with his 160, junior Nolan Darnieder 51st with a 167 and senior Toren Strauss 65th with a 170.

In the girls 2A championships at Hickory Point Golf Course in Decatur, Loyola Academy senior Katie Magner placed 15th to complete her impressive high school resume, which also includes an individual regional championship and four conference crowns.

Fellow Rambler and senior Gigi Zera finished 30th with her 158, while New Trier sophomore Grace Leber took 40th with a 162.

Glenbrook North won the tournament by two strokes over Hinsdale Central. Stevenson finished in third place.