Niles West likes possibilites for a long postseason

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Updated: January 23, 2012 3:32AM

Niles West golfers Nate Lee and Nick Hester have one major goal this season: get to The Den.

The Den at Fox Creek Golf Course, in Bloomington, is the site of the Class 3A State Tournament on Oct. 14 and 15.

Lee was there last year as a freshman, tying for 93rd. Hester, meanwhile, did not qualify, but traveled to support Lee.

Both Hester, a senior, and Lee are playing like state qualifiers this season.

“Both are very good players and have been working hard trying to get there,” Niles West head coach Mitch Stern said. “(Hester) has had a really good season and medaled in a lot of matches. He’s averaging a 77 for 18 holes and has been (our) most consistent player this season. (Lee) has been a little more up-and-down, but nothing really high for him.”

The pair already has helped the Wolves to a 4-1 record and second-place finish in the CSL South regular-season standings, perhaps the program’s best showing ever.

West will be looking to maintain its No. 2 spot in the conference behind New Trier at the CSL South Meet, Sept. 27 at Sportsman’s Country Club.

The following week, the Wolves will attempt to be one of three teams to advance out of the Notre Dame Regional, which will be held Oct. 4 at Mission Hills Country Club in Northbrook. The regional also will include teams like New Trier, Loyola, Notre Dame, Evanston, Maine South and Niles North.

“(At conference), we’d like to knock off New Trier, but they are so talented, top-to-bottom,” Stern said. “(At regionals) we don’t just want to have a couple individuals getting out, we want to make a run as a team. There are good teams there, but we are as good as anybody.”

The play of senior Matt Crawford this season has made Stern optimistic about his team’s chances to advance in the postseason. After only picking up the game as a sophomore, Crawford has surprisingly established himself as the team’s No. 3 player in 2011.

“(Crawford) has been the sleeper of the year for us,” Stern said. “He wasn’t slotted in as our No. 3, but he’s been playing great. He’s averaging 40 every nine holes, you can almost count on him to shoot 40 every time.

“He wasn’t shooting those scores before. He was playing bogey golf at best (in the last two seasons). But he worked hard, got better, got a little stronger and is hitting the ball farther.”

Recap: On Saturday, the Wolves finished 14th at the 26-team Wheeling Invite at Chevy Chase Country Club.

West senior David Lotsof led the way with a career-best 79, Hester shot an 83 and Lee recorded an 89.

New Trier defeated the Wolves 152-166 on Sept. 14 at Winnetka Country Club. Crawford and Lee both shot 40 in that dual.

A day earlier at their home course of Willow Hill in Northbrook, Niles West posted a 152-167 win over Waukegan. Lee (37) was the medalist.