Plainfield Central Prevails on Fifth Card

The unpredictability of boys golf was on display once again Monday afternoon in Yorkville.

Plainfield North was sitting pretty after the lead foursome finished play at Whitetail Ridge Golf Club; the Tigers' Nick Corban continued his exceptional play with his fifth consecutive medalist performance to give the Tigers an early nine-shot lead against crosstown rival Plainfield Central.

But the Wildcats stormed all the way back in the final three pairings, eventually deadlocking the Southwest Prairie dual match at 166.

With a pair of 44s for its fifth card, Plainfield Central (5-0, 4-0) remained undefeated on the season with its four-shot cushion on the tiebreaker.
Plainfield North fell to 3-2. 2-2.

"Everybody seemed to struggle," Plainfield Central coach Darren Kobliska said. "The fifth card ending up mattering."

The Wildcats' comeback overshadowed the brilliant play of Corban.

The senior standout tamed the gusting southwest winds on the opening three holes with routine pars, hit all but one green in regulation and offset his lone bogey with a pair of birdies to post a sterling 1-under-par 35.

"I have been practicing a lot in the wind lately," said Corban, who has been the low man in all five of the Tigers' dual meets. "I just took advantage of (the wind on the ensuing downwind holes)."

The round could have been even lower, but Corban failed to convert three other birdie looks from inside 10 feet.

"I'm always pleased with an under-par (round)," Corban said.

Caleb Hissel had difficulty with his first three holes, but the Tigers' second-rated player found his groove in the middle portion of the round.

The resulting 40 by the junior gave the Tigers an anchor twosome score of 75.
The Wildcats' top two players, meanwhile, sophomore Mitch Young and senior Nick Dylla, had respective rounds of 44 and 40.

The tide turned, though, when the second group finished at the par-5 ninth hole.
The Wildcats' Andrew Kordelewski and John Michalek fashioned respectable outings of 41 and 42.

Junior Mike Bentson then provided the Wildcats with a target score when he came home with a 43.

Plainfield North had the roof cave in on its upset attempt when none of its six remaining players failed to break 45.

The Tigers' collective 91 from Cody Evans and Corey Evak enabled North to temporarily tie the score at 168, but Central escaped with a pair of 44s compared to the Tigers' fifth-card best of 48.

"It's very disappointing," Plainfield North coach Brad Shinovich said. "This is a match we had to win to win the conference title. We're going to need some help from someone else (in the league). The (earlier) loss to Minooka killed us."