Naperville North Smothers Central in DVC Showdown

Nick Buege and Raymond Knoll rendered notions of a showdown superfluous Tuesday afternoon at Naperbrook Golf Course in Plainfield.

The Naperville North tandem played the par-36 layout to near perfection in the Huskies' all-important DuPage Valley Conference boys golf match against host Naperville Central.

The two handled the course like seasoned Sunday schoolteachers, touring the front side with matching 34s as the Huskies finished with a 2-under total of 142 to best their fellow league unbeaten by 12 shots.

"I just had a solid round of golf," said Knoll, whose inability to negotiate the collar on the par-3 eighth hole was his lone blemish against three birdies. "I had a lot of fun out there."

Naperville North improved to 7-0 overall and 5-0 in the league with its 142-154 victory; the Redhawks fell to 3-1 overall and in the conference.

Naperville North coach Ryan Hantak has the luxury of playing Knoll, the sophomore returning state qualifier, in the third slot.

It was Buege, playing in the lead group, who set the tone of the Huskies' one-sided victory.

The senior began his day with birdie at the first and continued with innocuous pars at the second, third and fourth.

The fifth hole, however, was far from harmless.

Buege flubbed his second shot on the par-4 hole and had a 20-foot, sliding left-to-right par attempt from slightly above the hole.

The effort found nothing but the bottom of the cup.

"It definitely felt like (a birdie)," Buege said. "It was one of those putts you stand over and say, 'I can make this putt.'"

Buege safely negotiated the sixth for another par, and the seventh became his signature moment.

After a booming 300-yard-plus drive, Buege faced the daunting choice of going for the island-like-green --hazards adorn both sides --in two or laying up.

He showed no sense of diffidence in selecting a hybrid-3 iron for the 230-yard approach.

"I love going (for par-5s) in two anytime," Buege said. "I just struck it so well, and it started drawing (right to left) in the wind."

The ball nestled some 14 feet away, and the Huskies' No. 1 player had a perfect read to drain the eagle-3.

"I couldn't have drawn a putt up any better," he said.

Like Knoll behind him, Buege had a hiccup at eight to spoil his flawless day.

But the end result, with the Huskies' Jon Mengel and Eric Izzo recording 1-over 37s from the final foursome, was another victory for the defending conference champion.

"I'm very disappointed with our score today," Naperville Central coach Barry Baldwin said. "We're capable of putting up scores like (North did today)."

Pete Mandich led Naperville Central with a 38; the Redhawks also counted scores from Jaskaran Sangha (39) and Matt Hay (39). Two others shots 40 -- John Doyle and Tim Lieser.