Outlook for Rockford's top golfers, where and when they will play in IHSA regionals

Boylan and Rockford Lutheran won the NIC-10 and Big Northern Conference boys tournament golf titles last week, with Boylan and Winnebago taking the girls crowns, respectively.

The stakes get even higher this week when the Illinois High School Association state series begins with regionals for the boys in Classes 1A, 2A and 3A on Wednesday and for 1A and 2A in the girls on Thursday.

Here are where local teams are going and who figure to be the top teams and individuals with the best hopes of advancing to Monday’s sectionals:

Class 3A boys at Aldeen

McHenry and Woodstock North Co-op join six NIC-10 teams in the Auburn Regional. Hononegah and Guilford, second and third in the NIC-10, should both finish among the top three teams and reach sectionals. Guilford’s Andrew Carey, a two-time NIC-10 runner-up, and Jake Shiels rank among the regional’s top golfers, but Hononegah is strong from top to bottom.

“We stand a really, really good chance of advancing,” Hononegah coach Ken Lewis said. “All year long, we have had a chance for six players to score for us. If a couple slip up, a couple pick them up. We have had a good balance all year.”

Teams entered: Harlem, McHenry, Auburn, East, Guilford, Jefferson, Hononegah and Woodstock North.

More:Boylan golfer sets Rockford-area history with his victory at NIC-10 tournament

Class 2A boys at Marengo Ridge

Dropping down in class actually makes regionals harder for Boylan, which has won six consecutive NIC-10 titles but only two regional titles in the last seven years. The Crystal Lake schools make this one of the toughest regionals in the state every year. Still, Boylan should make it out behind Cooper Watt, the defending regional individual champ who has won three consecutive NIC-10 titles.

“This is the first time I’ve had five first-year seniors come out, and they have really stepped up the last couple of weeks and really started playing well,” Boylan coach John Canova said. “They are getting used to playing competitive golf.”

Teams entered: Belvidere, Belvidere North, Crystal Lake Central, Crystal Lake Prairie Ridge, Crystal Lake South, Harvard, Marengo, Boylan and Woodstock Marian.

Class 2A boys at Mendota Golf Club

Freeport, fourth in the NIC-10, is seeded fourth at Mendota. Ottawa and LaSalle-Peru are expected to be the top two teams, but Freeport and Stillman Valley both have a chance to grab that third spot and advance, with Dixon and Sterling being their top competition.

Teams entered: Dixon, Freeport, LaSalle-Peru, Mendota, Ottawa, Rochelle, Rock Falls, Sterling and Stillman Valley.

Class 1A boys at Silver Ridge

Big Northern co-champs Byron and Rockford Lutheran should be the favorites at the Oregon Regional. Byron, which won the regular season title before finishing four strokes behind Lutheran in the conference tourney, has more depth, giving the Tigers a slight edge.

Teams entered: Amboy, Byron, Erie, Hinckley-Big Rock, Morrison, Oregon, Polo, North Boone, Port Byron Riverdale, Christian Life, Rockford Lutheran, Rockford Christian, Shabbona Indian Creek, Sterling Newman.

More:One of Rockford's greatest golfers dies, leaving a legacy of passion, talent and teaching

Class 1A at Galena Golf Club

NUIC champ River Ridge/Scales Mound has the best chance of any local team to reach sectionals at Galena. Stockton (fourth) and Forreston (sixth) were the next-best Rockford-area teams in the NUIC, which comprises most of this regional.

Teams entered: Dakota, East Dubuque, Forreston, Freeport Aquin, Fulton, Galena, RR/SM, Eastland Co-op, Pearl City Co-op, Durand/Pecactonica, West Carroll, Stockton, Warren and Winnebago.

Class 2A girls at Timber Pointe

The Rockford Co-op has won three regional titles in a row and five in the last seven years. The team is not quite as strong this year, but should still advance, led by Kayla Sayyalinh, a two-time regional medalist. The Belvidere Co-op, which finished second last year, also has a chance to qualify for a rare trip to sectionals.

Teams entered: Belvidere Co-op, Burlington Central, Hampshire, Huntley, Harlem, Rockford Co-op, Honoengah, Sterling and Sycamore.

More:The end of the greatest rivalry in NIC-10 girls golf history came down to a final putt

Class 1A girls at Atwood

Boylan has won back-to-back regional titles and should win again behind the Greenberg sisters, Ella and Eva. They return to the same course where they just won the NIC-10 title. Byron, Winnebago and Oregon also have a strong chance to advance. Byron and Winnebago shared the Big Northern title after Winnebago won the conference tourney and Byron took second. Oregon was the BNC regular-season champ. Winnebago’s Kyra Simon should be the top individual after easily winning the BNC tourney.

Teams entered: Byron, Dakota, Forreston, Galena, River Ridge/Scales Mound, Eastland Co-op, Oregon, Pearl City Co-op, Polo, Rochelle, Boylan, Rockford Lutheran, Rockford Christian, West Carroll, Stillman Valley, Stockton and Winnebago.

Matt Trowbridge has covered sports for the Rockford Register Star for over 30 years, after previous stints in North Dakota, Delaware, Vermont and three years covering the Hawkeyes in Iowa City.