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Lee vies to contribute to Spartans team
Glenbrook North's Nick Jan chips near the green during a triangular on Aug. 16 in Northbrook. Jan, a senior, is off to a strong start for the Spartans this season. | Jon Durr~Sun-Times Media
Golfers
to Watch
Michael Abrahamson , Loyola, sr.
Coming off a strong season as a junior that included tying for 21st at the Class 3A state tournament, Abrahamson had a busy summer on the course and should be ready to move up the leader board.
Nick Hardy ,
Glenbrook North, jr.
Nick Jan ,
Glenbrook North, sr.
Nick McCall ,
North Shore Country Day, sr.
McCall finished fifth in the state in Class 1A to lead the Raiders to their first-ever state championship a year ago. He headlines another strong team that looks to defend its title.
Austin Rendell ,
New Trier, sr.
Ian Wright ,
New Trier, sr.
Additional
golfers to watch
Sean Furman, Notre Dame, jr.
Jon Goldstein, Glenbrook N., sr.
Michael Hultquist, Loyola, sr.
Jack Junge, New Trier, so.
Nate Lee, Niles West, sr.
Rob Mazza, Maine South, sr.
Jackson Mihevic, Evanston, jr.
Colin O’Neill, Loyola, sr.
Orion Yamat, Maine East, so.
Updated: August 24, 2012 6:23PM
NORTHBROOK — If Jae Lee lived almost anywhere else in the state, he would be a team’s top player.
As it stands, the Glenbrook North senior shoots in the 70s and has trouble counting his score.
At Sportman’s Country Club on Aug. 16, Lee’s 76 was sixth-best on the Spartans, who totaled a 4-under 276 to beat Maine South and Niles West.
But Lee doesn’t want it any other way.
“Competing with these guys to make my score lower helps me play better,” the third-year varsity player said. “I also think there is less pressure on me, which also helps. I know there’s always going to be a lot of players shooting around par.”
Lee is one of six players returning for the Spartans with significant varsity experience. Senior Nick Jan, senior Jon Goldstein, senior Harrison Marick, junior Nick Hardy and junior Brian Ohr are the others who played at last season’s sectional tournament.
“I’ve learned a lot from these players, especially the two Nicks,” Lee said. “They have shown me a lot of things that have helped me get better.”
Jan, who recently committed to Ohio State, was the medalist at Sportsman’s with a 5-under 65.
Unlike most players, Lee didn’t spend his summer playing many tournaments. Instead, he worked as a caddie at The Glen Club in Glenview and took advantage of the course’s top-notch practice facilities.
One of Lee’s stated goals is to stay away from the big number, something he didn’t do at Sportsman’s, where he carded two double bogeys and one triple bogey on the back nine.
“I still need to cut down on silly mistakes,” said Lee, who works with private instructor Brett Packee. “It’s definitely correctable. Bogeys never hurt too much, but the doubles and triples do.”
The Spartans, one of the favorites to win the state title, started the season last week with a victory at the Rolling Green Invitational in Arlington Heights. Jan and Goldstein each shot 72. Lee opened the year with a 78.
