At first glance, the Burlington Central boys golf team’s season ended in disappointment. The Rockets couldn’t avoid big numbers at the Den at Fox Creek and shot a 317, leaving them outside the cut at 11th place at the Class 3A IHSA State Finals.
But to coach Tom Davies, focusing on that statistic discredits the team’s other numerical milestones throughout the season.
“I think, in time, these guys are going to see they’ve really had a pretty special season,” Davies said.
For starters, the 317 wasn’t what the Rockets wanted or expected, but it was still the second-best score, relative to par, in the program’s history at state, Davies said. Burlington Central moved up to 3A last season, and Davies credited the talent at that level for evening the playing field.
Nonetheless, the Rockets paved the way to Bloomington with dominance, winning their regional sectional to advance to state for the first time since 2024, when they took third.
This season, the team never shot over 320. The Rockets went undefeated in the Fox Valley Conference, won a pair of invites and swept St. Charles East and St. Charles North in friendlies.
“I didn’t think it was a chance that they wouldn’t be in the top eight teams [at state],” Davies said. “But I think that’s a testament to high school golf and how far it’s come, how thin the margins are.”
Davies pointed to Geneva, another talented team that won its conference and regional but didn’t make the cut downstate. But he won’t make excuses. His squad entered the round with confidence.
“You didn’t make it downstate if you’re not talented,” Davies said. “But there’s got to be some kind of, I don’t want to call it cocky, but arrogance. If you’re going down there and you don’t believe that you can win state, what are we doing?”
On the course, Davies said the team struggled psychologically. The pressure of a state final combined with the inherent difficulty of golf made for a demanding environment. But some Rockets still found success.
Senior Tommy Wyse made the cut and finished tied for 22nd, shooting 2-over-par. Junior Evan Sarallo also advanced to the next day, winding up in 30th place at 5-over. Wyse overcame three double-bogeys on the front nine with three birdies over the next six.
“Tommy was dialed in,” Davies said. “Dialed in definitely with his driver. He doesn’t take a lot of time. He commits to his shot. He sees his line. He has his game plan. He doesn’t overthink it.”
Burlington Central’s state lineup featured three other seniors – Matthew Zierk, Colin Gritzman and Brock Wilbrandt. The trio didn’t make the cut, but led the charge in providing support for Wyse and Sarallo. Even the seniors who didn’t make the state team drove down to cheer on their teammates over the weekend.
“Your seniors are always special, but I mean, this group was absolutely amazing with talent, amazing with character, everything you could ever ask for in a group of guys.”
Davies coached all five of Burlington Central’s state teams in program history. He said golf is a game with 90 seconds of action, then another five hours of thinking. The team’s depth will be tested again with the departure of six seniors, but the Rockets have the postseason lessons, even the harsh ones, to lean on going forward.
“They’ll have to deal with a little bit of disappointment, but they’ll learn from it,” Davies said. “They’ll grow.”