DEKALB — Kishwaukee Country Club challenged many players including Rochelle’s Griffin Ohlinger on Monday afternoon, when the Hub junior battled in the IHSA 2A Sycamore Sectional. Ohlinger finished the 18-hole tournament with 95 after qualifying out of the IHSA 2A Sandwich Regional, where Ohlinger fired an 84 to advance to the sectional as an at-large individual.

“The conditions were very damp but I thought the course played really well today,” Ohlinger said. “It was hard to judge how the ball would bounce. I was able to get some fortunate bounces today and some not-so-lucky bounces. I thought playing in this tournament helped me adapt to being in this type of atmosphere and adjust to the pressure of knowing that I have to perform well. There isn’t nearly as much wiggle room as there is in other tournaments.”

Monday’s sectional meet concluded Ohlinger’s third season with the Rochelle Hub varsity golf team. After earning an Interstate 8 All-Conference Honorable Mention for the second straight year and advancing to the sectional tournament for the first time, Ohlinger will look for more accolades and a deeper run in the postseason when he returns for his senior season next year.

“I thought my junior season went pretty well,” Ohlinger said. “I had some new best scores and I had some good rounds. I think playing in the sectional tournament will help me for next year because I know what I have to work on for next year and I know I have to play a lot more golf.”